chlorofluorocarbon
UK[ˌklɔːrəʊˌflʊərəʊˈkɑːbən]US[ˌklɔːroʊˌflʊroʊˈkɑːrbən]
n
Any of several simple gaseous compounds that contain carbon, chlorine, fluorine, and sometimes hydrogen, used especially formerly in aerosols and refrigerants, and known to cause damage to the ozone layer in the earth's atmosphere.
Morpheme Breakdown
chloro
fluoro
carbon
chloro
green, chlorine
fluoro
fluorine
carbon
carbon
Etymology
The word chlorofluorocarbon is a modern scientific compound, systematically constructed in the 20th century from classical roots to describe a specific class of man-made chemicals. Its first element, 'chloro-', draws from the Greek term for the greenish-yellow color of chlorine gas. The second, 'fluoro-', originates from the Latin word for 'flow', historically applied to minerals like fluorite used as fluxes in metallurgy. Finally, 'carbon' comes from the Latin for charcoal, the quintessential source of the element. Thus, the term's literal logic is a transparent, descriptive label: a carbon-based compound containing both chlorine and fluorine atoms, reflecting the precise, compositional naming conventions of organic chemistry.
Analysis
Structure: chloro (green, chlorine) + fluoro (fluorine) + carbon (carbon)
- chloro: From Greek 'khlōros' (pale green). In scientific terminology, it denotes the presence of chlorine.
- fluoro: From Latin 'fluor' (a flowing, stream). In mineralogy and chemistry, it denotes the presence of fluorine.
- carbon: From Latin 'carbo' (coal, charcoal). In chemistry, it denotes the chemical element carbon.
Examples
The use of chlorofluorocarbons in aerosol sprays was widely banned to protect the ozone layer.
Scientists discovered that chlorofluorocarbons persist in the atmosphere for a long time.
Older refrigeration systems often relied on chlorofluorocarbons as coolants.