In: Chemistry
Name one green chemistry principle that could have the greatest potential to minimize the future impact of each of Chlorofluorocarbons; CF2Cl2 and Hydrochlorofluorocarbons: HCF2Cl , explaining how EACH green chemistry principle can be applied specifically to each chemical.
Prevention principle: It is better to prevent waste than to treat or clean up waste after it has been created.
Chlorofluorocarbons are now considered as wasted products because by definition a waste is something useful. Chlorofluorocarbons lost usefulness when it was discovered that the damage they produced at the ozone layer was much more harmful that the gain they give to society. So it is better to prevent its use, therefore its formation, that trying to spend money in dealing with the damage.
Design for Degradation: Chemical products should be designed so that at the end of their function they break down into innocuous degradation products and do not persist in the environment.
HCF2Cl has short tropospheric lifetimes and it will reduce the input of ozone- destroying substances to the stratosphere, leading to reduced ozone loss, however it is not an optimal solution and another substances should be developed that degraded before it achieve the ozone layer. In this way there is no risk of affectation.