Which refrigerant is commonly found in home refrigerators and freezers?

The refrigerant commonly found in home refrigerators and freezers is HFC-134a, or Tetrafluoroethane. This refrigerant became popular due to the phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) like R-12, which were known to deplete the ozone layer. HFC-134a was introduced as a more environmentally friendly alternative that does not have ozone-depleting properties, making it suitable for household refrigeration applications.

HFC-134a is non-toxic and has favorable thermodynamic properties that make it efficient for use in refrigeration cycles. With its lower global warming potential compared to some other refrigerants, HFC-134a was widely adopted for residential refrigeration and automotive applications. This is particularly relevant in the context of regulations aimed at reducing the environmental impact of refrigerants.

In contrast, R-12 is an older refrigerant that has been phased out due to its ozone-depleting characteristics. R-22, which is commonly used in air conditioning systems, also faces phase-out and is not typically used in new household refrigerators anymore. R-410A, used in newer air conditioning systems, is a blend of refrigerants designed to replace R-22 and is not generally utilized in household