2007-03-27 11:36:27 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
When a refrigerant is decomposed or burned, the primary products formed are acids: Hydrochloric acid (HCI), if the refrigerant contains chlorine, and hydrofluoric acid (HF), if it contains fluorine. These products are certainly formed when hydrogen is present, such as from the breakdown of oil, water or if the refrigerant has hydrogen attached (like R-22 or R-134a). If oxygen also is present (from air or water), then it's possible to form carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and various unsaturated carbonyl compounds -- the most notorious of which is phosgene.
Being extremely toxic in small amounts, phosgene formation was a real concern when traditional refrigerants (R11, R- 12, R- 113, R- 114) decomposed. Phosgene contains two chlorine atoms and an oxygen atom. It will only form when oxygen is present and only the refrigerants with chlorine attached will produce phosgene (not HFCs). R22 has only one chlorine atom per molecule, so it is extremely difficult, chemically speaking, to get another one attached to form phosgene. Decomposition of R-22 or HFCs may form other carbonyl fluorides, however they are not as toxic as phosgene.
Now, if you get in an enclosed space and the early variants of Freon come into contact with, say, the lighted end of a cigarette, voila! phosgene gas can be formed and it will kill you ! Later versions don't seem to be as prone to this...
2007-03-27 11:50:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was about to answer, but saw that Ironhand got there first. He is absolutely correct.
While it is currently illegal to vent R12, R22 or 134 to atmosphere, it hasn't always been the case. I can tell you from experience that if you vent R12 while a vehicle is running AND the R12 gets sucked into the car's air intake, some pretty NASTY toxic fumes will come out of the exhaust. Basically, you're producing phosgene. This happened back in the late 70's when R12 was 50 cents per pound. Be Careful!
We used to use them for target practice. I still feel bad about my contribution to the ozone problem. Misguided youth . . .
2007-03-27 13:50:25 · answer #2 · answered by Squiggy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nope, it was invented because really old fridges had a highly flamable gas in them that could explode and kill people. Since freon was banned however, many people have refilled their freon air conditioning with flamable hydroflourocarbons or something like that. Basically this is just propane and butane, very dangerous but cheap so it is used in some places (parts of the USA)
2007-03-27 11:45:14 · answer #3 · answered by Clay H 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, when freon was developed, the intention was to develop an inert gas that could be used as a refrigerant.
2007-03-27 11:41:39 · answer #4 · answered by hsueh010 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not by itself. Nor is it explosive.
BUT— if exposed to open flame, it can convert to phosgene, a lethal gas. If you suspect R-12 or R-22 is present in the atmosphere in any quantity, extinguish all open flame, including cigarettes.
The gas is not lethal by itself.
2007-03-27 11:44:57 · answer #5 · answered by Ironhand 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not but some early refrigerator gases were
2007-03-31 00:42:25 · answer #6 · answered by Professor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No its not
2007-03-27 11:49:48 · answer #7 · answered by cool guy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋