Bromofluorocarbons (BFCs) are molecules based on carbon, bromine, and

fluorine Fluorine is a chemical element with the symbol F and atomic number 9. It is the lightest halogen and exists at standard conditions as a highly toxic, pale yellow diatomic gas. As the most electronegative reactive element, it is extremely reacti ...

. The most common use has traditionally been in fire suppression systems. The brand name "Halon" is frequently used interchangeably for BFCs. However, not all Halons are technically BFCs (some contain chlorine also). BFCs attack the ozone layer even more aggressively than chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and are powerful greenhouse gases, although due to shorter atmospheric lifetimes not as powerful as equivalent perfluorocarbons or chlorofluorocarbons.See Hodnebrog, Ø., M. Etminan, J. S. Fuglestvedt, G. Marston, G. Myhre, C. J. Nielsen, K. P. Shine, and T. J. Wallington (2013), ‘Global warming potentials and radiative efficiencies of halocarbons and related compounds: A comprehensive review,’ ''Reviews of Geophysics'', vol. 51, pp. 300-378, doi:10.1002/rog.20013. Nevertheless, BFCs are still used in some ships and aircraft, because replacements are not as effective. As production of BFCs was banned by the Montreal Protocol, remaining use depends on old inventories and on recycling. BFCs are extremely inert. In a fire, in addition to physically excluding oxygen, the molecules liberate bromine radical (chemistry), radicals which interfere with combustion reactions. BFCs tend to have higher melting and boiling points than comparable fully fluorinated molecules.

References

{{reflist Organobromides Fire suppression Organofluorides Ozone depletion