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tetrafluoroethylene
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Diagram showing the chemical reaction where two molecules of chlorodifluoromethane (CHClF2) undergo elimination to form one molecule of tetrafluoroethylene (C2F4) and two molecules of hydrogen chloride (HCl), with molecular structures illustrated.
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tetrafluoroethylene

chemical compound
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History

tetrafluoroethylene, a colourless, odourless, faintly toxic gas belonging to the family of organic halogen compounds; it is the starting material in the manufacture of polytetrafluoroethylene (q.v.), a valuable synthetic resin.

Tetrafluoroethylene is produced by heating chlorodifluoromethane, which is made from chloroform by its reaction with hydrogen fluoride in the presence of antimony pentachloride; chlorodifluoromethane (known by several trade names, of which the oldest is Freon 22) is used as a refrigerant in small air conditioners. Tetrafluoroethylene is flammable and, under certain conditions, explosive. It is practically insoluble in water but is appreciably soluble in acetone.