A chemical compound made of carbon atoms bonded to fluorine atoms, often used in refrigerants and non-stick coatings like Teflon.
From fluorine (from Latin fluere, 'to flow') + carbon (from Latin carbo, 'coal'). The term emerged in the early 20th century as chemists began synthesizing compounds with fluorine replacing hydrogen in hydrocarbons.
Fluorocarbons are so chemically stable they persist in the environment for centuries—CFCs used in old refrigerators damaged the ozone layer, teaching us that chemistry's greatest strengths can become environmental weaknesses if we're not careful.
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