Fluorocarbon

[Katachresis]

I thought I'd start a new thread with a question.

Is "Fluorocarbon" toxic or even dangerous to me or the environment?

While cleaning out a supply closet in a computer room, I came across a plastic bottle containing a fluid labeled as a "Cleaning Solvent" with the ingredients only "Fluorocarbon" and "Isopropyl Alcohol" and the only warning "Irritating to Eyes, Avoid eye contact".

I thought fluorocarbons depleted the ozone layer, but maybe that's just in aerosol form.

What should I do with this stuff?

Thanks,

-K.

[pgwenthold]

That is chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) that are ozone depleters. It's the weak carbon - chlorine bond that is the problem.

Carbon-fluorine bonds don't break upon UV irradiation. Heck, replace one of the halogens in CFCs with a hydrogen and it slows the radical formation enough to be an acceptable replacement for CFCs.

[Soapy Sam]

Don't drink it.

[Dilb]

There are probably hundreds on compounds which could be called fluorocarbons, this page has some nice information in the chemical families section: http://www.fluorocarbons.org/

In particular, HFCs are listed as listed as solvents, particularily HFC-134a, which seems to be a pretty safe sort of substance. The MSDS here http://www.setonresourcecenter.com/msds/docs/wcd0001b/wcd01b50.htm
says it should be recycled if possible, so I'd check your local government for information about disposing forane.

[Mongrel]

Did it have any identifying numbers on it? If so this site (http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/) should help you. If it doesn't and it's still in it's original packaging then it's probably not horribly dangerous (in the same way that Bleach or Oven cleaners aren't, obviously suitable handling precautions apply)

[Katachresis]

Thanks guys.

I feel bad for not doing my better research myself, but all the links above proved helpful.

Thanks again. :)