Tetrahalomethane
Tetrahalomethanes are fully halogenated methane derivatives of general formula CBrkCllFmInAtp, where:Tetrahalomethanes are on the border of inorganic and organic chemistry, thus they can be assigned both inorganic and organic names by IUPAC: tetrafluoromethane - carbon tetrafluoride, tetraiodomethane - carbon tetraiodide, dichlorodifluoromethane - carbon dichloride difluoride.
Each halogen forms a corresponding halomethane, but their stability decreases in order CF4 > CH4 > CCl4 > CBr4 > CI4 from exceptionally stable gaseous tetrafluoromethane with bond energy 515 kJ.mol−1 to solid tetraiodomethane, depending on bond energy.
Many mixed halomethanes are also known, such as CBrClF2.Uses
Fluorine, chlorine, and sometimes bromine-substituted halomethanes were used as refrigerants, commonly known as CFCs.
