Introduction

    Freon [trade name], any one of a special class of chemical compounds that are used as refrigerants, aerosol propellants, and solvents. These compounds are haloalkanes, i.e., halogen derivatives of saturated hydrocarbons. Every Freon contains at least some fluorine in its molecule, and most contain chlorine or bromine as well.  Freons are generally colorless, odorless, nontoxic, non-corrosive, nonflammable, and chemically un-reactive. The most commonly used is Freon-12, or dichlorodifluoromethane (CCl2F2), which boils at -29.8°C and is thus a gas at ordinary temperatures and pressures. It is prepared by the reaction of carbon tetrachloride with hydrogen fluoride in the presence of a catalyst. There are a number of other Freons. Some of those containing bromine in their molecules are used in fire extinguishers. See also chlorofluorocarbons. (Dictionary.com)

In the late 1800s till 1929 refrigerators used the toxic gases like

as refrigerants. During that time many deaths were caused by methyl chloride (CH3Cl) leakage from these peoples refrigerators. Then when they wanted to dispose of the refrigerator they would leave it in their backyard. Then three American corporations Frigidaire, General Motors, and DuPont began to search for a less dangerous refrigerant.

Thomas Midgley headed the research into the new refrigerants. In 1928, Thomas Midgley, Jr. and Charles Franklin Kettering invented Freon; a "miracle compound". Frigidaire was issued the patent, US#1,886,339, for the formula on December 31, 1928.

“Freon represents several different chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, which are used in commerce and industry. The CFCs are a group of aliphatic organic compounds containing the elements carbon and fluorine, and, in many cases, other halogens (especially chlorine) and hydrogen. Freons are colorless, odorless, nonflammable, non-corrosive gases or liquids.”  (www.about.com) The most common Freon is Trichlorofluoromethane also know as Freon-11.

In 1930, Kinetic Chemical Company was formed by General Motors and DuPont to produce Freon. From 1929-1935 Frigidaire and its competitors sold 8 million refrigerators in the United States using Freon made by the KCC. The world's first self-contained home air conditioning unit, called an “Atmospheric Cabinet” in 1932 by the Carrier Engineering Corporation which used Freon

“Side Note: The trade name Freon ® is a registered trademark belonging to E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (DuPont).” (www.about .com)

Freon is non-toxic eliminating the danger from before. In 1930, Thomas Midgley held a demonstration of Freon for the American Chemical Society by breathing Freon gas and blowing it onto a candle flame extinguishing it. Showing that Freon’s was non-toxic and non-flammable. Decades later people realized that such gases endangered the world by depleting the ozone layer.