Dichlorofluoromethane


Dichlorofluoromethane or Freon 21 or R 21 is a halomethane or hydrochlorofluorocarbon with the formula CHCl2F. It is a colorless and odorless gas. It is produced by fluorination of chloroform using a catalyst such as antimony trifluoride:

Uses

Dichlorofluoromethane was used as a propellant and refrigerant. Due to its role in ozone depletion, dichlorofluoromethane has been largely phased out. It has ozone depletion potential 0.04. Production and consumption has been since 2004 reduced to 15% of level from 1989 and it is to be phased out in 2015 according to Montreal Protocol.
Pyrolysis of a mixture of dichlorofluoromethane and chlorofluoromethane gives hexafluorobenzene:

Additional physical data

Its critical point is at 178.5 °C and 5.17 MPa. At temperatures from 5 K to 105 K it has one phase in the space group Pbca.

Safety

Its toxicity is comparable to that of chloroform. Its TLV is 10 ppm.