Dichlorodifluoromethane is an inert gas that has a long history acting as a refrigerant, allowing us to stay cool in the summer, and as a spray propellant for important consumer substances. Dichlorodifluoromethane owes many of its desirable properties to its C-F bonds and synthesis involves organofluorine chemistry. Despite many uses, the gas has been isolated as a major contributor to ozone depletion and it is currently banned for production in the United States. Dichlorodifluoromethane use in the United States is currently regulated and substitutes for dichlorodifluoromethane are promising, although they too have their drawbacks.
