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Glite Dictionary
perfluorocarbon

perfluorocarbon

1 9.9
Man-made chemicals made of carbon and fluorine that can warm the planet and come from factories
  • noun
  • /ˌpɜrˌfluəroʊˈkɑrbən/
  • Specialized
: perfluorocarbono
  • Many industries use perfluorocarbon compounds as powerful greenhouse gases due to their unique chemical properties.
  • perfluorocarbon that can carry

Examples

  • The researchers developed a new perfluorocarbon that is more efficient for oxygen transport in medical applications.

  • Earlier this year, the group received results of an analysis of perfluorocarbon (PFC) in polar bears.

    Academic text (2012)

  • After emerging from the sputtering tool, the disk is lubricated with several monolayers of a perfluorocarbon lubricant to reduce friction.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Scientists are studying the effects of perfluorocarbon emissions on global warming and climate change.

Synonyms

PFC
vsperfluorocarbon
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A gas that traps heat in the air and comes from making aluminum

is the broader class including several such compounds beyond the industrial emissions

Surface Forms

perfluorocarbon singular
perfluorocarbons plural

Morphology

perfluorocarbon = fluorocarbon (semi-transparent) = per + fluoro + carbon

The structure (per- + fluorocarbon) is regular, but the combining form 'fluoro-' and the chemical sense are technical and may be unfamiliar to average learners.

Etymology

The word perfluorocarbon comes from the parts per-, meaning 'completely', fluoro from the element fluorine, as in fluoride, and carbon. So a perfluorocarbon is a chemical made only of carbon and fluorine, which makes it very stable and able to last a long time in the air.