r‘ A CFC is an organic compound that contains carbon, chlorine and fluorine.

r‘ CFC͛s are volatile compounds derivate from methane (CH4) and ethane (C2H6), contributing
to air pollution.

r‘ he most common is the dichlorodifluoromethane (CCl2F2), also known as Freon-12.

r‘ hey are used as: Repellents, refrigerants, propellants, solvents, spray, etc.

r‘ hey are non-toxic, non-flammable and non-carcinogenic.

r‘ Ôroduction:

HCCl3 + 2 HF ї HCF2Cl + 2 HCl

CF3CH2Cl + Br2 ї CF3CHBrCl + HBr

r‘ Ôhoto-induced scission:

CCl3F + photon ї CCl2F6 + Cl6

r‘ riatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms (O3). It͛s unstable in high
concentrations.

r‘ Ozone in the lower atmosphere is toxic, but in the upper atmosphere, the ozone layer is
beneficial because prevents potentially damaging ultraviolet light.

r‘ Ozone only makes up 0.00006% of the atmosphere.

r‘ he limit concentration is 120 µg/m³

r‘ Half-life (high concentrations):

2 O3 ї 3 O2

r‘ In the ozone layer:

O2 + photon ї 2 O

O3 + photon ї O + O2 (better)

O3 + O ї 2 O2

O + O2 ї O3

r‘ CFC͛s have been implicated in the accelerated depletion of ozone in the Earth's
stratosphere.
r‘ he chlorine which was separated from the CFC by the ultraviolet light, hits an ozone
molecule, taking away an atom of oxygen.

r‘ his process is the responsible to be potentially damaging the ozone layer.

r‘ CCl3F + photon ї CCl2F6 + Cl6

r‘ O3 + photon ї O2 + O

r‘ Cl6 + O3 ї OCl + O2

r‘ OCl + O ї O2 + Cl

r‘ he cycle repeats, but production of ozone doesn͛t occur.

r‘ Also, CFCs are more than 10,000 times effective at trapping radiated heat than carbon
dioxide (CO2). So, CFCs also contribute to the greenhouse effect.

r‘ [se of CFC͛s has declined as concern over their interaction with the environment has
grown.

r‘ In 1984 the ozone hole formed in Antarctica was larger than the [nited States and taller
than Mount Everest

r‘ Between 1969 and 1986, the average global concentration of ozone in the stratosphere
had fallen about 2%.

r‘ he increase in ultraviolet radiation affects human health, reduces crop yields and
increases smog.

r‘ Ban the use of CFC͛s in the production of most aerosol cans.

r‘ In 1987, thirty-five countries signed the Montreal Ôrotocol on Substances that Deplete the
Ozone Layer.

r‘ CFC͛s are included in the Kyoto Ôrotocol because of their very high Global Warming
Ôotential.

r‘ On September 21, 2007, approximately 200 countries agreed to accelerate the elimination
of CFC͛s entirely by 2020.