Bromochlorodifluoromethane

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Bromochlorodifluoromethane

Chemical name	Bromochlorodifluoromethane
Other names	Halon 1211 Halon 1211 BCF BCF Freon 12B1
Chemical formula	CBrClF₂
Molecular mass	165.38 g mol⁻¹
CAS number	[353-59-3]
Density	1.799 g cm⁻³ (liquid)
Melting point	−160.5 °C
Boiling point	−4 °C
SMILES	FC(Br)(Cl)F
Disclaimer and references

Bromochlorodifluoromethane, also known by the trade name Halon 1211, or BCF, or Halon 1211 BCF, or Freon 12B1, is a haloalkane with the chemical formula is C F₂Cl Br.

Brominated halogens were first used during World War II as fire extinguisher for aircraft and tanks. Bromochlorodifluoromethane was introduced as an effective gaseous fire suppression agent around 1973 for use around highly valuable materials in places such as museums, mainframe rooms and telecommunication switching centers. Its advantages as a fire extinguishing agent was that it had lower toxicity than chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride and that since it was a covalently bonded compound, it did not form conductive ions which made it usable on electrical equipment.

The production of bromochlorodifluoromethane and similar chlorofluorocarbons has been banned in most countries since January 1, 1994 as part of the Montreal Protocol on ozone depleting substances.

This is a volatile extinguishant that should be used only with a breathing apparatus (when volume exceeds 5%).

[edit] See also

[edit] References

George H. Tryon et al, "Fire Protection Handbook Thirteenth Edition 1969", National Fire Protection Association, Boston Massachusetts, 1969, Library of Congress 62-12655, no ISBN.
Arthur E. Cote et al, "Fire Protection Handbook Eighteenth Edition", National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, Massachusetts, 1997, ISBN 0-877-377-1

[edit] External links

International Chemical Safety Card 0635
Institut national de recherche et de sécurité (1988). "Bromochlorodifluorométhane." Fiche toxicologique n° 165. Paris:INRS. (PDF file, in French)