What Happens When Industrial Gases Meet Sunlight

Have you ever wondered what happens to industrial gases like hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) and hydrochlorofluoroolefins (HCFOs) when they break down in our atmosphere? They don't just disappear; instead, they change into other chemicals. Let's take CF3CHO, for example. Scientists were curious if this transformation creates a greenhouse gas called CHF3, also known as HFC-23. So, they conducted an experiment to see what happens when CF3CHO meets sunlight.

The results were fascinating. A small amount of CHF3 is indeed produced. The interesting part is that the amount formed depends on the air pressure surrounding it. In the vacuum of space, about 16% turns into CHF3. But under normal atmospheric pressure on Earth, only 0. 12% does. Isn't that cool? It's almost like air pressure has a say in the chemical reaction.

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