CFC
UK: ˌsiː.efˈsiː | US: ˌsiː.efˈsiː
n. (abbreviation) chlorofluorocarbon, a class of compounds containing carbon, chlorine, and fluorine, formerly used in refrigerants and aerosols but now largely phased out due to environmental harm.
CFC is an acronym derived from the chemical elements it represents: Chloro (chlorine), Fluoro (fluorine), and Carbon. These compounds were widely used in the 20th century but were later found to deplete the ozone layer, leading to global regulatory action (e.g., the Montreal Protocol). The term reflects scientific nomenclature logic, combining elemental symbols for brevity.
CFCs were once common in air conditioning systems.
The production of CFCs is now banned in most countries.
Scientists discovered that CFCs contribute to ozone layer depletion.
Alternatives to CFCs, like HFCs, are less harmful to the environment.
The treaty aimed to phase out CFCs by the year 2000.