chlorofluorocarbon
[ klawr-oh-floo r-oh-kahr-buh n, -flawr-; klohr-oh-floo r-oh-kahr-buh n, -flohr- ]
/ ˌklɔr oʊˌflʊər oʊˈkɑr bən, -ˌflɔr-; ˌkloʊr oʊˌflʊər oʊˈkɑr bən, -ˌfloʊr- /
noun
any of several volatile, inert, saturated compounds of carbon, fluorine, chlorine, and hydrogen: used as refrigerants, foam-blowing agents, solvents, and, formerly, as aerosol propellants until scientists became concerned about depletion of the atmospheric ozone layer.
Compare
chlorofluoromethane.
Origin of chlorofluorocarbon
First recorded in 1945–50;
chloro-2 +
fluorocarbon
Words nearby chlorofluorocarbon
chlorobromide paper,
chlorobromomethane,
chlorocarbon,
chloroethane,
chloroethene,
chlorofluorocarbon,
chlorofluoromethane,
chloroform,
chloroformism,
chloroformyl chloride,
chlorogenic acid
British Dictionary definitions for chlorofluorocarbon
chlorofluorocarbon
/ (ˌklɔːrəˌflʊərəʊˈkɑːbən) /
noun
chem
any of various gaseous compounds of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine, used as refrigerants, aerosol propellants, solvents, and in foam: some cause a breakdown of ozone in the earth's atmosphere
Abbreviation: CFC
Scientific definitions for chlorofluorocarbon
chlorofluorocarbon
[ klôr′ō-flur′ō-kär′bən ]
A fluorocarbon containing chlorine. Chlorofluorocarbons are destructive to the Earth's ozone layer. For this reason, the production and use of chlorofluorocarbons has been sharply reduced in recent years.