LEED Green Associate Practice Test

Which of the following refrigerants are known for being harmful to the ozone layer?

1. CFCs and HCFCs

2. HFCs and HFOs

3. Amines and Acids

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: CFCs and HCFCs

The correct answer is indeed the selection of CFCs and HCFCs. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are well-known for their deleterious effects on the ozone layer. These compounds were widely used in air conditioning, refrigeration, aerosol propellants, and foam-blowing applications. When released into the atmosphere, CFCs and HCFCs rise to the stratosphere, where ultraviolent radiation breaks them apart, releasing chlorine atoms that then participate in chemical reactions that deplete ozone molecules. The other options encompass substances that do not significantly harm the ozone layer. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) are considered to have a lower potential for ozone depletion than CFCs and HCFCs, although they can have high global warming potential. Amines and acids are a different class of chemicals and are not associated with ozone depletion in the same way as CFCs and HCFCs. The "None of the above" choice would imply that there are no harmful substances listed, which is inaccurate in the context of CFCs and HCFCs