Which statement about R-134a's ODP is true?

Which statement about R-134a's ODP is true?

• A. It has zero ozone depletion potential.
• B. It has high ozone depletion potential.
• C. ODP is not defined for refrigerants.
• D. ODP is greater than 1.

Answer: (A)

ODP measures how much a substance can deplete the ozone layer, relative to a reference like CFC-11. Substances that contain chlorine or bromine drive ozone destruction in the stratosphere, while those that lack these halogens do not. R-134a is a hydrofluorocarbon with fluorine and hydrogen but no chlorine, so it does not catalytically destroy ozone. That means its ozone depletion potential is zero. So the statement describing zero ODP is the correct one. For context, while it doesn’t deplete ozone, R-134a has a relatively high global warming potential, which is why alternatives with lower GWP are being pursued.

ODP measures how much a substance can deplete the ozone layer, relative to a reference like CFC-11. Substances that contain chlorine or bromine drive ozone destruction in the stratosphere, while those that lack these halogens do not. R-134a is a hydrofluorocarbon with fluorine and hydrogen but no chlorine, so it does not catalytically destroy ozone. That means its ozone depletion potential is zero. So the statement describing zero ODP is the correct one. For context, while it doesn’t deplete ozone, R-134a has a relatively high global warming potential, which is why alternatives with lower GWP are being pursued.