CF3SF5 - a 'super' greenhouse gas

By 2008-01-01T00:00:00

Trifluoromethyl sulfur pentafluoride

Source: Created with the free Discovery Studio Visualizer (Accelrys, Inc)

Trifluoromethyl sulfur pentafluoride - a byproduct of the electronics industry - has been named a 'super' greenhouse gas by physical chemists

Over the past seven years the importance of greenhouse gases and global warming has leapt from obscurity to the top of the political agenda in all developed countries, culminating in the Stern report in November 2006 when the economic consequences of unchecked global warming were spelt out. Here we review the science of the greenhouse effect - or, more accurately, radiation trapping - and describe what constitutes a serious greenhouse gas, taking CF3SF5 as a case study. 

Thanks for using Education in Chemistry. You can view one Education in Chemistry article per month as a visitor. 

A photograph of a teacher standing in a white lab coat, speaking with a class of children in a laboratory, is superimposed on a colourful background. Text reads "Teach Chemistry means support for classroom and staff room".

Register for Teach Chemistry for free, unlimited access

Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.

Get all this, plus much more:

  • unlimited access to resources, core practical videos and Education in Chemistry articles
  • teacher well-being toolkit, personal development resources and online assessments
  • applications for funding to support your lessons

Set up your Teach Chemistry account

Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.

Not eligible for Teach Chemistry? Sign up for a personal account instead, or you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.