Why were fluorine-containing refrigerants developed for household refrigerators?

Fluorine-containing refrigerants, often known by the trademark Freon, were developed in the late 1920s to address the safety limitations of earlier refrigerants like ammonia. Ammonia was considered unsuitable for household use because even minor leaks produced an unpleasant odor, and mechanical breakdowns could release poisonous quantities of the gas.1

In contrast, these new fluorine-based compounds were selected because they were remarkably nontoxic, nonflammable, and odorless. They also possessed ideal physical properties for refrigeration, including low boiling points, low surface tension, and low viscosity, which allowed them to be easily converted between liquid and gaseous states.213

While these compounds were initially hailed for their safety and stability, it is important to acknowledge the significant environmental cost that followed. It was later discovered that these substances contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer, posing a serious threat to life on Earth by reducing protection against harmful ultraviolet radiation. Consequently, the production of most of these chemicals has been banned or phased out globally to protect the environment and public health.23