What is the full name for CFCs?

The full name for CFCs is chlorofluorocarbons.

Chlorofluorocarbons are synthetic compounds made primarily from carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. Some were developed as safer alternatives to earlier refrigerants such as ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and methyl chloride, which could be toxic or flammable. CFC-12, also known as dichlorodifluoromethane or Freon-12, became a widely used refrigerant.

CFCs were also used in aerosol propellants, solvents, and fire-suppression systems. Their apparent chemical stability became a major environmental problem: once released, they can drift into the stratosphere, where ultraviolet radiation breaks them apart and releases chlorine atoms. Those chlorine atoms participate in reactions that destroy ozone, which helps shield Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

A common mix-up is confusing CFCs with HCFCs, or hydrochlorofluorocarbons. HCFCs contain hydrogen and generally have a lower ozone-depletion impact, but they are still regulated. The 1987 Montreal Protocol established a global phaseout of many ozone-depleting substances, including CFCs.