'Freon' used as refrigerants is chemically known as

Freon is a registered trademark for a group of halocarbon products primarily used as refrigerants and aerosol propellants. Chemically, Freons are classified as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are organic compounds composed of chlorine, fluorine, and carbon atoms [1]. These substances are a subset of halogenated hydrocarbons where hydrogen atoms in a hydrocarbon chain are replaced by halogen atoms like chlorine and fluorine [2]. Specifically, the first commercially produced Freon, R-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane), consists of a single carbon atom bonded to two chlorine and two fluorine atoms. While the term 'Freon' is sometimes used generically for newer hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), its primary chemical identification in a classical scientific context refers to chlorofluoro hydrocarbons. These compounds were widely adopted due to their non-toxic, non-flammable, and chemically stable properties.

Sources

1. [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 19: Ozone Depletion > 19.1.2. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): > p. 268
2. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > ozone depletion > p. 12