hydrofluorocarbon

[ hahy-druh-floor-oh-kahr-buhn, ‐-flawr‐, ‐-flohr‐ ]

noun

, Chemistry

1. an organic compound composed of hydrogen, fluorine, and hydrogen, used most commonly in refrigeration and air conditioning: : HFC

   An international accord to phase out hydrofluorocarbons was reached at the October summit on climate change.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hydrofluorocarbon¹

First recorded in 1945–50; hydro- ²( def ) + fluorocarbon ( def )

Example Sentences

Deploying zero-emissions energy to displace fossil fuels, capturing leaking methane, and phasing out hydrofluorocarbons yield immense climate benefits over the near term.

From Vox

The EPA is putting a cap on hydrofluorocarbons through 2023, allocating allowances for companies to make or import them over the next two years.

From Washington Post

The main refrigerants used in air conditioners, a class of chemicals known as hydrofluorocarbons, are some of the most potent greenhouse gases on the planet, trapping thousands of times more heat than an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide.

From Washington Post

Many foaming agents used in XPS contain hydrofluorocarbons that can be 1,430 times as potent a greenhouse gas as carbon dioxide.

From Outside Online

Manufacturers have largely relied on hydrofluorocarbons, which are highly potent greenhouse gases that can leak out during manufacturing and repair or at the end of a unit’s life.

From MIT Technology Review