What is a key characteristic of HFC refrigerants compared to traditional CFCs?

HFC refrigerants, or hydrofluorocarbons, have been developed as alternatives to chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) primarily because of their environmental impact. A critical characteristic that differentiates HFCs from traditional CFCs is that HFCs do not deplete the ozone layer. This is significant because CFCs contain chlorine, which is known to destroy ozone molecules in the stratosphere, contributing to ozone layer depletion.

While HFCs are not a threat to the ozone layer, they do have a global warming potential (GWP), meaning they can contribute to climate change if released into the atmosphere. This characteristic underscores the need for careful management of HFC emissions despite their reduced impact on ozone compared to CFCs. Awareness of these properties is vital for technicians, as it relates to environmental regulations and the responsible use of refrigerants in various applications.

The other options present characteristics that do not accurately distinguish HFCs in comparison to CFCs. For instance, while HFCs can be considered more efficient in some applications, this is not universally true and doesn’t capture their primary distinguishing factor. Non-toxicity and flammability vary among different HFCs and CFC