# If R410a Puron refrigerant were heated, would it become hydrofluoric acid?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r410a-puron-refrigerant-were-heated-would-it-become-hydrofluoric-acid/731584>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 17, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r410a-puron-refrigerant-were-heated-would-it-become-hydrofluoric-acid/731584 "2015-09-17T18:47:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r410a-puron-refrigerant-were-heated-would-it-become-hydrofluoric-acid/731584/1 "2015-09-17T18:47:55Z")

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Simple no-frills chemistry question: If R410a Puron refrigerant were heated, would it become hydrofluoric acid?

If not, then what does it become?

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**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r410a-puron-refrigerant-were-heated-would-it-become-hydrofluoric-acid/731584/2 "2015-09-17T18:50:45Z")

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An MSDS says “At higher temperatures, (\>250° C), decomposition products may include Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) and carbonyl halides,” but what about lower temperature - say, 150 C?

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r410a-puron-refrigerant-were-heated-would-it-become-hydrofluoric-acid/731584/3 "2015-09-17T21:17:13Z")

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Since the MSDS doesn’t explicitly list a lower temperature for decomposition, it can be assumed that lower temperature don’t cause significant decomposition.

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**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r410a-puron-refrigerant-were-heated-would-it-become-hydrofluoric-acid/731584/4 "2015-09-19T20:28:41Z")

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OK, but things like sunlight can still decompose anything, temperature notwithstanding?