What does perfluorocarbon mean?
A perfluorocarbon is a carbon-based chemical compound in which all hydrogen atoms have been replaced by fluorine atoms. This complete fluorination gives the compounds exceptional chemical and thermal stability, allowing them to be used in demanding applications such as specialized refrigerants, electrical insulation, and heat-transfer fluids. Some perfluorocarbons also have very long atmospheric lifetimes, and certain perfluorinated gases act as potent greenhouse gases. As a result, releases of these substances from industrial equipment, refrigeration systems, and semiconductor manufacturing are monitored as part of environmental and climate policy. In scientific and technical usage, "perfluorocarbon" is often abbreviated "PFC." The word belongs mainly to chemistry, engineering, and atmospheric science rather than everyday vocabulary.
nounA chemical compound in which a carbon skeleton has all of its hydrogen atoms replaced by fluorine atoms. Perfluorocarbons are exceptionally chemically stable and are used in specialized applications, including some refrigerants, electrical insulation, and heat-transfer fluids.
- Any organic chemical compound in which every hydrogen atom normally bonded to a carbon atom has been replaced by a fluorine atom.
"The facility is investigating whether a perfluorocarbon fluid could improve the efficiency of its cooling system."
"Atmospheric monitoring has detected perfluorocarbon emissions from industrial equipment."
"Because of its thermal stability, the perfluorocarbon is suitable for use in high-performance electrical equipment."
The plural is used when referring to this class of compounds or to multiple individual compounds.
"Several perfluorocarbons have been identified as exceptionally persistent greenhouse gases."
Some perfluorocarbons persist for millennia in the environment, making short-lived laboratory fluorinated gases unusually long-lived greenhouse pollutants.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does perfluorocarbon come from?
The word was formed within modern chemical terminology by combining "perfluoro-", indicating complete replacement of hydrogen by fluorine, with "carbon," the central element of an organic carbon framework. Its underlying parts reflect the development of systematic nomenclature in chemistry during the 19th and 20th centuries. It is morphologically related to terms such as "fluorocarbon" and "perfluoroalkane," which describe closely related classes or specific forms of fluorinated compounds.
Related word forms
How perfluorocarbon is actually used
In climate-science literature, the abbreviation "PFCs" is common, but it can also refer more broadly to perfluorinated compounds in some regulatory contexts. The term is chiefly technical and scientific.
Easily confused with perfluorocarbon
A perfluorocarbon contains only carbon and fluorine, whereas a hydrofluorocarbon retains some hydrogen atoms alongside carbon and fluorine.
Fluorocarbon is a broader term for compounds containing carbon, fluorine, and possibly hydrogen, while perfluorocarbon specifically indicates complete replacement of hydrogen by fluorine.