chlorofluoromethane

[ klawr-oh-floo r-oh-meth-eyn, -flawr-; klohr-oh-floo r-oh-meth-eyn, -flohr- ]

/ ˌklɔr oʊˌflʊər oʊˈmɛθ eɪn, -ˌflɔr-; ˌkloʊr oʊˌflʊər oʊˈmɛθ eɪn, -ˌfloʊr- /

noun

any of a series of gaseous or volatile methanes substituted with chlorine and fluorine and containing little or no hydrogen: used as refrigerants and, formerly, as aerosol propellants until scientists became concerned about depletion of the atmospheric ozone layer.

Nearby words

chlorobromomethane, chlorocarbon, chloroethane, chloroethene, chlorofluorocarbon, chlorofluoromethane, chloroform, chloroformism, chloroformyl chloride, chlorogenic acid, chlorohydrin

Compare chlorofluorocarbon.

Origin of chlorofluoromethane

First recorded in 1960–65; chloro-² + fluoro- + methane