1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane
IUPAC name 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane
Other names Dymel 134a Genetron 134a HFA-134a HFC-134a R-134a Suva 134a Norflurane
Identifiers
CAS number	811-97-2 Y
ChemSpider	12577 Y
UNII	DH9E53K1Y8 Y
EC number	212-377-0
KEGG	D05208 Y
RTECS number	KI8842500
Jmol-3D images	Image 1
SMILES FCC(F)(F)F
InChI InChI=1S/C2H2F4/c3-1-2(4,5)6/h1H2 Y Key: LVGUZGTVOIAKKC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/C2H2F4/c3-1-2(4,5)6/h1H2 Key: LVGUZGTVOIAKKC-UHFFFAOYAU
Properties
Molecular formula	CH2FCF3 [1]
Molar mass	102.03 g/mol
Appearance	Colorless gas
Density	0.00425 g/cm³, gas
Melting point	-103.3°C (169.85 K)
Boiling point	-26.3°C (246.85 K)
Solubility in water	0.15 wt%
Hazards
MSDS	External MSDS
S-phrases	(S2), S23, S24/25, S51
Main hazards	Asphyxiant
NFPA 704	0 1 1
Flash point	250 °C (482 °F)
Related compounds
Related refrigerants	Difluoromethane Pentafluoroethane
Related compounds	1,1,2,2,2-pentafluoroethane 2-Chloro- 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane 1,1,1-Trichloroethane
Supplementary data page
Structure and properties	n, εr, etc.
Thermodynamic data	Phase behaviour Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data	UV, IR, NMR, MS
Y (verify) (what is: Y/N?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane, R-134a, Genetron 134a, Suva 134a or HFC-134a, is a haloalkane refrigerant with thermodynamic properties similar to R-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane), but with less ozone depletion potential. It has the formula CH₂FCF₃, and a boiling point of −26.3 °C (−15.34 °F) at atmospheric pressure.

Uses

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane is an inert gas used primarily as a “high-temperature” refrigerant for domestic refrigeration and automobile air conditioners. These devices began using 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane in the early 1990s as a replacement for the more environmentally harmful R-12, and retrofit kits are available to convert units that were originally R-12-equipped. Other uses include plastic foam blowing, as a cleaning solvent, a propellant for the delivery of pharmaceuticals (e.g. bronchodilators), wine cork removers, gas dusters, and in air driers for removing the moisture from compressed air. 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane has also been used to cool computers in some overclocking attempts. It is also commonly used as a propellant for airsoft airguns.

Tetrafluoroethane, when compressed as inside gas duster cans, is a clear liquid which boils when exposed to room temperature (as seen here) and can be extracted from common canned air canisters by simply inverting them during use.

Recently, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane has been subject to use restrictions due to its contribution to climate change. In the EU, it will be banned as of 2011 in all new cars.^[2] The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has proposed 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a) to be best replaced by a new fluorochemical refrigerant HFO-1234yf (CF3CF=CH2) in automobile air-conditioning systems.^[3] California may also prohibit the sale of canned 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane to individuals to avoid non-professional recharge of air conditioners.^[4] A ban has been in place in Wisconsin since October 1994 under ATCP 136 prohibiting sales of container sizes holding less than 15 lbs of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, but this restriction applies only when the chemical is intended to be a refrigerant.^[5] It appears, for example, that it is legal for a person to purchase gas duster containers with any amount of the chemical because in that instance the chemical is neither intended to be a refrigerant ^[5] nor is HFC-134a included in the § 7671a listing of class I and class II substances.^[6]

1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane is also being considered as an organic solvent suitable for extraction of flavor and fragrance compounds, as a possible alternative to other organic solvents and supercritical carbon dioxide.^[7][8] It can also be used as a solvent in organic chemistry, both in liquid and supercritical fluid.^[9] It is used in the resistive plate chamber particle detectors in the Large Hadron Collider.^[10][11] It is also used for other types of particle detectors, e.g. some cryogenic particle detectors.^[12] It can be used as an alternative to sulfur hexafluoride in magnesium smelting as a shielding gas.^[13]

1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane is also being considered as an alternative to sulfur hexafluoride as a dielectric gas.^[14] Its arc-quenching properties are poor, but its dielectric properties are fairly good.

History

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane first appeared in the early 1990s as a replacement for dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12), which has ozone depleting properties.^[15] 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane has been atmospherically modeled for its impact on depleting ozone and as a contributor to global warming. Research suggests that over the past 10 years the concentration of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane has increased significantly in the Earth's atmosphere, with a recent study revealing a doubling in atmospheric concentration between 2001 and 2004.^[16] It has insignificant ozone depletion potential (ozone layer), significant global warming potential (100-yr GWP = 1430)^[17] and negligible acidification potential (acid rain).

Safety

Contact of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane with flames or hot surfaces in excess of 250 °C (482 °F) may cause vapor decomposition and the emission of toxic gases including hydrogen fluoride and carbonyl halides.^[18] 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane itself has an LD₅₀ (lethal concentration for 50% of subjects) in rats of 1,500 g/m³, making it relatively non-toxic, apart from the dangers inherent to inhalant abuse.

Aerosol cans containing 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, when inverted, become effective freeze sprays. Under pressure, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane is compressed into a liquid, which upon vaporization absorbs a significant amount of thermal energy. As a result, it will greatly lower the temperature of any object it contacts as it evaporates. This can result in frostbite when it contacts skin, as well as blindness upon eye contact.

See also

• list of refrigerants
• Dichlorodifluoromethane
• 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (data page)
• Tetrabromoethane
• Tetrachloroethane

References

1. ^ Global Warming Potentials of ODS Substitutes | Ozone Layer Protection | US EPA. Epa.gov (2006-06-28). Retrieved on 2011-08-21.
2. ^ European Directive 2006/40/EC relating to emissions from air-conditioning systems in motor vehicles. (PDF) . Retrieved on 2011-08-21.
3. ^ HFO-1234yf A Low GWP Refrigerant For MAC. Refrigerants.dupont.com (2011-08-17). Retrieved on 2011-08-21.
4. ^ California restricts use of HFC-134a in cars. 27 June 2007. R744.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-21.
5. ^ ^{a b} Chapter ATCP 136. MOBILE AIR CONDITIONERS; RECLAIMING OR RECYCLING REFRIGERANT. State.wi.us. (PDF) . Retrieved on 2011-08-21.
6. ^ Class I Ozone-depleting Substances. EPA.gov. Retrieved on 2011-08-21.
7. ^ Corr, Stuart (2005). "1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a): A Selective Solvent for the Generation of Flavor and Fragrance Ingredients". Natural Flavors and Fragrances. ACS Symposium Series. 908. pp. 41. doi:10.1021/bk-2005-0908.ch003. ISBN 0-8412-3904-5. 
8. ^ Abbott, Andrew P.; Eltringham, Wayne; Hope, Eric G.; Nicola, Mazin (2005). "Solubility of unsaturated carboxylic acids in supercritical 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC 134a) and a methodology for the separation of ternary mixtures". Green Chemistry 7 (4): 210. doi:10.1039/B412697A. 
9. ^ Abbott, Andrew P.; Eltringham, Wayne; Hope, Eric G.; Nicola, Mazin (2005). "Hydrogenation in supercritical 1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane (HFC 134a)". Green Chemistry 7 (10): 721. doi:10.1039/B507554H. 
10. ^ Anushree Ghosh STUDY OF GLASS RESISTIVE PLATE CHAMBERS (RPC) AND CALCULATION OF EFFICIENCY. INO Graduate Training Programme DHEP, TIFR, Mumbai.
11. ^ M. Capeans, I. Glushkov, R. Guida, F. Hahn, S. Haider (CERN, Switzerland) RPC operation at the LHC experiments in an optimized closed loop gas system. Medical Imaging Conference. 25–31 October 2009.
12. ^ Norbeck, E.; Olson, J. E.; Moeller, A.; Onel, Y. (2006). "Rad Hard Active Media For Calorimeters". AIP Conference Proceedings. 867. pp. 84. Bibcode 2006AIPC..867...84N. doi:10.1063/1.2396941. http://highenergy.physics.uiowa.edu/HEP/Files/Talks/RadHardPaper.pdf. 
13. ^ Magnesium recycling in the United States in 1998. (PDF) . USGS. Retrieved on 2011-08-21.
14. ^ Gaseous dielectrics with low global warming potentials – US Patent Application 20080135817 Description. Patentstorm.us (2006-12-12). Retrieved on 2011-08-21.
15. ^ Franklin J (1993). "The Atmospheric Degradation and Impact of 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluorethane (Hydrofluorocarbon 134a)". Chemosphere 27 (8): 1565–1601. doi:10.1016/0045-6535(93)90251-Y. 
16. ^ "Greenhouse gas monitoring at the Zeppelin station – Annual report 2004 (TA-2110/2005)". Norwegian Institute for Air Research. http://www.r744.com/news/files/NILU-%20exec%20summary%20of%20annual%20report%202004.pdf. Retrieved 2006-01-19. 
17. ^ Forster, P. et al. (2007). "Changes in Atmospheric Constituents and in Radiative Forcing.". Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-chapter2.pdf. 
18. ^ Honeywell International (December 2005). MSDS # GTRN-0047 For Genetron 134aUV. 

External links

• International Chemical Safety Card 1281
• Information about HFCs, European Fluorocarbons Technical Committee (EFCTC)
• MSDS at Oxford University
• Concise International Chemical Assessment Document 11, at inchem.org
• Pressure temperature calculator
• The Coexisting Curve of the Refrigerant HFC 134a: Some Scaling Models
• R134a 2 phase computer cooling