| Molar mass 84.04 g/mol Boiling point -47.6 °C Melting point -111 °C | Formula C2H3F3 Density 3.7 g/cm³ Appearance Colourless gas | |
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1,1,1-Trifluoroethane, or R-143a or simply trifluoroethane, is a hydrofluorocarbon compound that is a clear, colorless gas. It should not be confused with the much more commonly used gas R-134a or the isomeric compound 1,1,2-trifluoroethane.
It has a critical temperature of 73 °C.
It is used as a refrigerant either by itself or more commonly as a component of blended mixtures. Unlike CFCs used as refrigerants, trifluoroethane has no chlorine atoms and is therefore not an ozone-depleting chemical, though its high chemical stability and infra-red absorbency make it a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential of 4300, higher than many other commonly used HFC refrigerants.
Trifluoroethane is also used as a propellant in canned air products used to clean electronic equipment.