Question

Of the refrigerants below, which refrigerant type has the highest ozone depletion potential?

a) R-134a
b) R-22
c) R-410A
d) R-123

Answer 1

R-22 has the highest ozone depletion potential among the refrigerants listed.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the refrigerants listed, R-22 (hydrochlorofluorocarbon-22 or HCFC-22) has the highest ozone depletion potential. HCFC-22 contains chlorine, which is known to contribute significantly to the depletion of the ozone layer. When chlorine is released into the stratosphere, it can catalytically destroy ozone molecules for up to two years. R-134a is an HFC with no chlorine and thus does not deplete ozone, while R-410A is a blend of HFCs, also with no ozone depletion potential. R-123 (hydrochlorofluorocarbon-123), although being an HCFC with chlorine, has a lower ozone depletion potential compared to R-22.