How do CFCs relate to refrigeration?

Question

I know what CFCs are, but how do they relate to refrigeration and spray cans?

(chloroflurocarbons)

whoever said something about global warming, no, thats wrong, CFCs diminish the ozone layer WHICH HAS ABSOLUTLY NOTHING TO DO WITH GLOBAL WARMING. =] Sorry I just had to say that, I wasnt being ungrateful for your answer.

r.rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Sorry i was wrong, they do contribute to greenhouse effet, Was mistaken

Answer 1

CFCs are used in the coolant for A/Cs and refrigerators.

Answer 2

The principle of refrigeration is to compress the gas, which liquefies it, and to pass the liquefied gas through the cooling chamber, which absorbs heat and cools as it changes back to a gas. The gas then passes to a radiator on the outside where as much of the heat as possible is removed. The gas is then reliquefied and it starts all over. It is a continuous process.

Several gases are very good at this because they liquefy and change back into a gas at useful temperatures. Ammonia is excellent but is used only commercially because it chemically active, toxic, and hard to handle. Various CFC's have been used because they are not toxic in the short term. The contribution to the greenhouse effect was known only quite recently.

Their use as propellants in aerosol cans is because a strong container is not needed to hold them in the liquid form but they readily change to gas when the pressure is released.

Appliances and car air conditioners are designed for newer, safer gases. Cars can be retrofitted for the newer gases.

Answer 3

The refrigerant is a CFC. If it leaks out of a junky refrigerator's cooling system that is a contribution to the CFC increase that is blamed for global warming.

Answer 4

It's a very stable in it's thermodynamic properties. CFC's aren't toxic, corrosive, flamable or even moderately reactive. In the 1920's and 30's sulfer dioxide and ammonia was use and you could imagine the smell that was produced. Since you need to create positive air pressure in a container, I.E. hair spray, coolant or body spray, to force the product out, you need to add a gas to keep the positive air pressure. Since oxygen and hydrogen are very flamable they had to find a more stable gas to use.

Answer 5

they were used as the first substance for cooling in air conditioners and refrigerators and allow spray cans to act the way they do. they have been replaced now, i think, with something else. chlorofluorocarbons have been tied in with global warming if you believe in it.

Answer 6

They were once used to pressurize spray cans.