ROFIFAH NUR FADHILAH

1531010200

PARAREL D
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Nowadays, the earth’s atmosphere is warming constantly. The phenomenon of our

earth’s temperature rising is called global warming. Global warming makes the earth’s
climate system change. The climate system can warm or cool in response to changes in
external forcings. These are "external" to the climate system but not necessarily external to
Earth. Examples of external forcings include changes in atmospheric composition (e.g.,
increased concentrations of greenhouse gases), solar luminosity, volcanic eruptions, and
variations in Earth's orbit around the Sun. The greenhouse effect is the process by which
absorption and emission of infrared radiation by gases in a planet's atmosphere warm its
lower atmosphere and surface. Human activity since the Industrial Revolution has increased
the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to increased radiative forcing
from CO2, methane, tropospheric ozone, CFCs and nitrous oxide. CFCs are already known to
deplete ozone, but in-depth statistical analysis now suggests that CFCs are also the key driver
in global climate change, rather than carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) is an organic compound that contains carbon, chlorine, and

fluorine, produced as a volatile derivative of methane and ethane. A common subclass is the
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which contain hydrogen, as well. Freon is DuPont's
brand name for CFCs, HCFCs and related compounds. Other commercial names from around
the world are Algofrene, Arcton, Asahiflon, Daiflon, Eskimo, FCC, Flon, Flugene, Forane,
Fridohna, Frigen, Frigedohn, Genetron, Isceon, Isotron, Kaiser, Kaltron, Khladon, Ledon,
Racon, and Ucon. The most common representative is dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12 or
Freon-12).

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), CFCs have no significant natural sources. They were

first manufactured in the 1930s, and industries soon found a wide variety of applications for
them due to their chemical unreactivity and heat-absorbing properties. CFCs have been used
as refrigerants in air conditioners and refrigerators, in aerosol spray cans, in manufacturing
foams as industrial solvents , and as cleaning agents in the manufacture of electronics. One
U.S. chemical industry gave them the trade name of "Freons," and the term has since become
a household word.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are a family of chemical compounds developed back in

the 1930's as safe, non-toxic, non-flammable alternative to dangerous substances like
ammonia for purposes of refrigeration and spray can propellants. Their usage grew
enormously over the years. One of the elements that make up CFCs is chlorine. Very little
chlorine exists naturally in the atmosphere. But it turns out that CFCs are an excellent way of
introducing chlorine into the ozone layer. The ultraviolet radiation at this altitude breaks
down CFCs, freeing the chlorine. Under the proper conditions, this chlorine has the potential
to destroy large amounts of ozone. This has indeed been observed, especially over Antarctica.
As a consequence, levels of genetically harmful ultraviolet radiation have increased.

The manufacture of these chemicals ended for the most part on January 1, 1996. The
only exceptions approved were for production within developing countries and for some
exempted applications in medicine (i.e., asthma inhalators) and research. The Montreal
Protocol included enforcement provisions by applying economic and trade penalties should a
signatory country trade or produce these banned chemicals. A total of 148 signatory countries
have now signed the Montreal Protocol. Atmospheric measurements CFC-11 and CFC-12
reported in 1993 showed that their growth rates were decreasing as result of both voluntary
and mandated reductions in emissions9. Many CFCs and selected chlorinated solvents have
either leveled off (Figure 1) or decreased in concentration by 19949,10.

The demand for the CFCs was accomodated by recycling, and reuse of existing stocks
of CFCs and by the use of substitutes. Some applications, for example degreasing of metals
and cleaning solvents for circuit boards, that once used CFCs now use halocarbon-free fluids,
water (sometimes as steam), and diluted citric acids. Industry developed two classes of
halocarbon substitutes- the hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and the hydrofluorocarbons
(HFCs). The HCFCs include hydrogen atoms in addition to chlorine, fluorine, and carbon
atoms. The advantage of using HCFCs is that the hydrogen reacts with tropospheric hydroxyl
(OH), resulting in a shorter atmospheric lifetime. HCFC-22 (CHClF2) has an atmospheric
lifetime of about 13 years11 and has been used in low-demand home air-conditioning and
some refrigeration applications since 1975. However, HCFCs still contain chlorine which
makes it possible for them to destroy ozone. The Copenhagen amendment calls for their
production to be eliminated by the year 2030. The HFCs are considered one of the best
substitutes for reducing stratospheric ozone loss because of their short lifetime and lack of
chlorine. In the United States, HFC-134a is used in all new domestic automobile air
conditioners. For example, HFC-134a is growing rapidly in 1995 at a growth rate of about
100% per year with an atmospheric lifetime of about 12 years12. (The "rule of 90" also
applies for the chemical formula of HCFCs and HFCs.)

Use of the CFCs, some chlorinated solvents, and Halons should become obsolete in
the next decade if the Montreal Protocol is observed by all parties and substitutes are used.
The science that became the basis for the Montreal Protocol resulted in the 1995 Nobel Prize
for Chemistry.