chlorofluoromethane

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

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.

Compare chlorofluorocarbon.

Origin of chlorofluoromethane

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