All 16 Refrigerant Types + Lists Of Refrigerants (HFC, HC, HO, etc.)

For HVAC use, there are 100+ refrigerants on the market. Whenever you need to choose the right type of refrigerant, so many R-xxx (these are ASHRAE-designated numbers) can be quite messy. That’s why we have finally, once and for all, created an all-encompassing overview of refrigerants.

We have 16 different types of refrigerants in use today. First, we are going to look at the overview refrigerant type chart, listing all 16 types of refrigerants.

Further on, we have created refrigerant lists for every freon type; HCFC refrigerant list, HFC refrigerant list, HFO refrigerant list, and so on all along to the natural refrigerant list.

Here is the overview of 16 types of freon:

Refrigerant Type: Chemical Nomenclature: Atoms Present In Refrigerant:
HCFC HydroChloroFluoroCarbons H, Cl, F, C
HCFO HydroChloroFluoroOlefins H, Cl, F, C
HFC HydroFluoroCarbons H, F, C
HFO HydroFluoroOlefins H, F, C
HCC HydroChloroCarbons H, Cl, C
HCO HydroChloroOlefins H, Cl, C
HC HydroCarbons H, C
HO HydroOlefins F, C
CFC ChloroFluoroCarbons Cl, F, C
CFO ChloroFluoroOlefins Cl, F, C
PFC PerFluoroCarbons F, C
PFO PerFluoroOlefins F, C
PCC PerChloroCarbons Cl, C
PCO PerChloroOlefins Cl, C
H Halons Br, Cl (in some but not all), F, H (in some but not all), C
Natural Refrigerants Various Molecules NH3, He, Ar, O2, N2, Ne, Air, H2O, etc.

As we can see, the refrigerant type categorization is based on what atoms refrigerants are made out of.

Example: R-22 is an HCFC refrigerant (HydroChloroFluoroCarbon with molecular formula CHClF2) because it is comprised of:

  • Hydrogen atoms (H in CHClF2).
  • Chlorine atoms (Cl in CHClF2).
  • Fluorine atoms (F in CHClF2).
  • Carbon atoms (C in CHClF2).
refrigerant types based on atoms from periodic table
Primary components in refrigerants are hydrogen atoms (H), carbon atoms (C), halogen atoms like chlorine (Cl), fluorine (F), bromine (Br), and oxygen (O).

This is just to explain why we have these different types of refrigerant gases and liquids.

Let’s now look at all 16 categories of refrigerants type-by-type (they are color-coded, based on this chart above). We’ll start with the 1st HCFC refrigerant list, and move one-by-one to the 16th natural refrigerant list:

1. List Of HCFC Refrigerants

As mentioned above, HCFC or HydroChloroFluoroCarbon refrigerants are comprised of hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and carbon atoms. Here is the full HCFC freon list with common refrigerants like R-22, R-401A, and R-406A in bolded letters:

HCFC Refrigerant: Chemical Name: Molecular Formula:
R-21 Dichlorofluoromethane CHFCl2
R-22 Chlorodifluoromethane CHClF2
R-31 Chlorofluoromethane CH2FCl
R-121 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloro-1-fluoroethane C2HFCl4
R-121a 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloro-2-fluoroethane C2HFCl4
R-122 1,1,2-Trichloro-2,2-difluoroethane C2HF2Cl3
R-122a 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2-difluoroethane C2HF2Cl3
R-122b 1,1,1-Trichloro-2,2-difluoroethane C2HF2Cl3
R-123 2,2-Dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane C2HF3Cl2
R-123a 1,2-Dichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane C2HF3Cl2
R-123b 1,1-Dichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane C2HF3Cl2
R-124 1-Chloro-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane C2HF4Cl
R-124a 1-Chloro-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane C2HF4Cl
R-131 1,1,2-Trichloro-2-fluoroethane C2H2FCl3
R-131a 1,1,2-Trichloro-1-fluoroethane C2H2FCl3
R-131b 1,1,1-Trichloro-2-fluoroethane C2H2FCl3
R-132 Dichlorodifluoroethane C2H2F2Cl2
R-132a 1,1-Dichloro-2,2-difluoroethane C2H2F2Cl2
R-132b 1,2-Dichloro-1,1-difluoroethane C2H2F2Cl2
R-132c 1,1-Dichloro-1,2-difluoroethane C2H2F2Cl2
R-133 1-Chloro-1,2,2-Trifluoroethane C2H2F3Cl
R-133a 1-Chloro-2,2,2-Trifluoroethane C2H2F3Cl
R-133b 1-Chloro-1,1,2-Trifluoroethane C2H2F3Cl
R-141 1,2-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane C2H3FCl2
R-141a 1,1-Dichloro-2-fluoroethane C2H3FCl2
R-141b 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane C2H3FCl2
R-142a 1-Chloro-1,2-difluoroethane C2H3F2Cl
R-142b 1-Chloro-1,1-difluoroethane C2H3F2Cl
R-151 1-Chloro-2-fluoroethane C2H4ClF
R-151a 1-Chloro-1-fluoroethane C2H4ClF
R-221 1,1,1,2,2,3-Hexachloro-3-fluoropropane C3HFCl6
R-222 Pentachlorodifluoropropane C3HF2Cl5
R-223 Tetrachlorotrifluoropropane C3HF3Cl4
R-224 Trichlorotetrafluoropropane C3HF4Cl3
R-225 Dichloropentafluoropropane C3HF5Cl2
R-226 Chlorohexafluoropropane C3HF6Cl
R-231 Pentachlorofluoropropane C3H2FCl5
R-232 Tetrachlorodifluoropropane C3H2F2Cl4
R-233 Trichlorotrifluoropropane C3H2F3Cl3
R-234 Dichlorotetrafluoropropane C3H2F4Cl2
R-235 Chloropentafluoropropane C3H2F5Cl
R-241 Tetrachlorofluoropropane C3H3FCl4
R-242 Trichlorodifluoropropane C3H3F2Cl3
R-243 Dichlorotrifluoropropane C3H3F3Cl2
R-244 Chlorotetrafluoropropane C3H3F4Cl
R-251 Trichlorofluoropropane C3H4FCl3
R-252 Dichlorodifluoropropane C3H4F2Cl2
R-253 Chlorotrifluoropropane C3H4F3Cl
R-261 Dichlorofluoropropane C3H5FCl2
R-262 Chlorodifluoropropane C3H5F2Cl
R-271 Chlorofluoropropane C3H6FCl
R-401A R-22/152a/124 Mixture Mixture
R-401B R-22/152a/124 Mixture Mixture
R-401C R-22/152a/124 Mixture Mixture
R-402A R-125/290/22 Mixture Mixture
R-402B R-125/290/22 Mixture Mixture
R-403A R-290/22/218 Mixture Mixture
R-403B R-290/22/218 Mixture Mixture
R-405A R-22/152a/142b/C318 Mixture Mixture
R-406A R-22/600a/142b Mixture Mixture
R-406B R-22/600a/142b Mixture Mixture
R-408A R-125/143a/22 Mixture Mixture
R-409A R-22/124/142b Mixture Mixture
R-409B R-22/124/142b Mixture Mixture
R-412A R-22/218/142b Mixture Mixture
R-414A R-22/124/600a/142b Mixture Mixture
R-414B R-22/124/600a/142b Mixture Mixture
R-415A R-22/152a Mixture Mixture
R-415B R-22/152a Mixture Mixture
R-416A R-134a/124/600 Mixture Mixture
R-418A R-290/22/152a Mixture Mixture
R-420A R-134a/142b Mixture Mixture
R-500 R-12/152a Mixture Mixture
R-501 R-22/12 Mixture Mixture
R-502 R-22/115 Mixture Mixture
R-503 R-23/13 Mixture Mixture
R-504 R-32/115 Mixture Mixture
R-505 R-12/31 Mixture Mixture
R-506 R-31/114 Mixture Mixture
R-509[A] R-22/218 Mixture Mixture

2. List Of HCFO Refrigerants

The list of HCFO freons is much shorter than the list of HCFC freons. The “O” in HCFO stands for “olefin”; this is a molecular structure where double carbon-carbon bonds (C=C). It contains only these 5 freons:

HCFO Refrigerant: Chemical Name: Molecular Formula:
R-411A R-1270/22/152a Mixture Mixture
R-411B R-1270/22/152a Mixture Mixture
R-411C R-1270/22/152a Mixture Mixture
R-1224yd (Z)-2,3,3,3,-Tetrafluoro-1-Chloropropene Mixture Mixture
R-1233zd 1-Chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene Mixture Mixture

3. List Of HFC Refrigerants

HFC refrigerants are very commonly used. The list of HFC freons includes R-32, R-404A, R-407A freon, and so on. HFC stands for HydroFluoroCarbons; this means that HFC refrigerants are comprised of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon atoms. Here’s the full list:

HFC Refrigerant: Chemical Name: Molecular Formula:
R-23 Trifluoromethane CHF3
R-32 Difluoromethane CH2F2
R-41 Fluoromethane CH3F
R-125 Pentafluoroethane C2HF5
R-E125 Pentafluorodimethyl ether C2HF5O
R-134 1,1,2,2-Tetrafluoroethane C2H2F4
R-134a 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane C2H2F4
R-E134 Bis(difluoromethyl)ether C2H2F4O
R-143 1,1,2-Trifluoroethane C2H3F3
R-143a 1,1,1-Trifluoroethane C2H3F3
R-143m Methyl trifluoromethyl ether C2H3F3O
R-E143a 2,2,2-Trifluoroethyl methyl ether C3H5F3O
R-152 1,2-Difluoroethane C2H4F2
R-152a 1,1-Difluoroethane C2H4F2
R-161 Fluoroethane C2H5F
R-272 Difluoropropane C3H6F2
R-281 Fluoropropane C3H6F2
R-404A R-125/143a/134a Mixture Mixture
R-407A R-32/125/134a Mixture Mixture
R-407B R-32/125/134a Mixture Mixture
R-407C R-32/125/134a Mixture Mixture
R-407D R-32/125/134a Mixture Mixture
R-407E R-32/125/134a Mixture Mixture
R-407F R-32/125/134a Mixture Mixture
R-410A R-32/125 Mixture Mixture
R-410B R-1270/22/152a Mixture Mixture
R-413A R-218/134a/600a Mixture Mixture
R-417A R-125/134a/600 Mixture Mixture
R-417B R-125/134a/E170 Mixture Mixture
R-419A R-125/134a/E170 Mixture Mixture
R-421A R-125/134a Mixture Mixture
R-421B R-125/134a Mixture Mixture
R-422A R-125/134a/600a Mixture Mixture
R-422B R-125/134a/600a Mixture Mixture
R-422C R-125/134a/600a Mixture Mixture
R-422D R-125/134a/600a Mixture Mixture
R-423A R-134a/227ea Mixture Mixture
R-424A R-125/134a/600a/600/601a Mixture Mixture
R-425A R-32/134a/227ea Mixture Mixture
R-426A R-125/134a/600/601a Mixture Mixture
R-427A R-32/125/143a/134a Mixture Mixture
R-428A R-125/143a/290/600a Mixture Mixture
R-429A R-E170/152a/600a Mixture Mixture
R-430A R-152a/600a Mixture Mixture
R-431A R-290/152a Mixture Mixture
R-434A R-125/143a/134a/600a Mixture Mixture
R-435A R-E170/152a Mixture Mixture
R-437A R-125/134a/600/601 Mixture Mixture
R-438A R-32/125/134a/600/601a Mixture Mixture
R-439A R-32/125/600a Mixture Mixture
R-440A R-290/134a/152a Mixture Mixture
R-448A R-32/125/134a/1234ze/1234yf Mixture Mixture
R-453A R-32/125/134a/227ea/600/601a Mixture Mixture
R-458A R-32/125/134a/227ea/236fa Mixture Mixture
R-507[A] R-125/143a Mixture Mixture
R-508[A] R-23/116 Mixture Mixture
R-508B R-23/116 Mixture Mixture

4. List Of HFO Refrigerants

The quite novel R-1234yf freon, for example, is an HFO refrigerant. These freons include hydrogen atoms, flourine atoms, and olefins (or alkenes) – these are the double carbon-carbon bonds (C=C). Here is the full list of HFO freons:
HFO Refrigerant: Chemical Name: Molecular Formula:
R-449A R-32/R-125/134a/1234yf Mixture Mixture
R-452B R-32/R-125/1234yf Mixture Mixture
R-454A R-32/1234yf Mixture Mixture
R-454B R-32/1234yf Mixture Mixture
R-454C R-32/1234yf Mixture Mixture
R-455A R-32/1234yf/744 Mixture Mixture
R-456A R-32/134a/1234ze(E) Mixture Mixture
R-457A R-32/152a/1234yf Mixture Mixture
R-459A R-32/1234yf(E)/1234ze(E) Mixture Mixture
R-513A R-1234yf/134a Mixture Mixture
R-514A R-1336mzz-Z/trans-1,2-Dichloroethene(t-DCE) Mixture Mixture
R-515B R-1234ze/227ea Mixture Mixture
R-1132a 1,1-Difluoroethylene C2H2F2
R-1141 Fluoroethylene C2H3F
R-1234yf 2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene C3H2F4
R-1234ze 1,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene C3H2F4
HFO-1336mzz-E trans-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene C4H2F6
HFO-1336mzz-Z (R1336mzz-Z) (DR-2) cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene CF3CH=CHCF3(Z)

5. List Of HCC Refrigerants

HCC or HydroChloroCarbon refrigerants are comprised of hydrogen, chlorine, and carbon atoms (single bond, C-C). They usually have a very simple molecular structure. Here is the HCC freon list:

HCC Refrigerant: Chemical Name: Molecular Formula:
R-20 Chloroform CHCl3
R-30 Dichloromethane CH2Cl2
R-40 Chloromethane CH3Cl
R-120 Pentachloroethane C2HCl5
R-130 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane C2H2Cl4
R-130a 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane C2H2Cl4
R-140 1,1,2-Trichloroethane C2H3Cl3
R-140a 1,1,1-Trichloroethane C2H3Cl3
R-150 1,2-Dichloroethane C2H4Cl2
R-150a 1,1-Dichloroethane C2H4Cl2
R-160 Chloroethane C2H5Cl

6. List Of HCO Refrigerants

There are only 3 HCO refrigerants. They are comprised of hydrogen atoms, chlorine atoms, and olefins (double C=C bonds):

HCO Refrigerants: Chemical Name: Molecular Formula:
R-1120 Trichloroethylene C2HCl3
R-1130 cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene C2H2Cl2
R-1140 Chloroethylene C2H3Cl

7. List Of HC Refrigerants

HC or HydroCarbon freons are primarily comprised of hydrogen and carbon atoms. In limited cases, we also have oxygen atoms (O) since HC refrigerants can be esters as well. Here is the HC freon list:

HC Refrigerant: Chemical Name: Molecular Formula:
R-50 Methane CH4
R-170 Ethane C2H6
R-E170 Dimethyl ether CH3OCH3
R-290 Propane C3H8
R-436A R-290/600a Mixture Mixture
R-436B R-290/600a Mixture Mixture
R-441A R-170/290/600a/600 Mixture Mixture
R-510[A] R-E170/600a Mixture Mixture
R-511[A] R-290/E170 Mixture Mixture
R-600 Butane C4H10
R-600a Isobutane C4H10
R-601 Pentane C5H12
R-601a Isopentane C5H12
R-610 Ethoxyethane CH3CH2OCH2CH3
R-611 Methyl formate HCOOCH3

8. List Of HO Refrigerants

We only have 6 HO or hydroolefin refrigerants, here is the list:

HO Refrigerant: Chemical Name: Molecular Formula:
R-432A R-1270/E170 Mixture Mixture
R-433A R-1270/290 Mixture Mixture
R-433B R-1270/290 Mixture Mixture
R-433C R-1270/290 Mixture Mixture
R-1150 Ethene CH2=CH2
R-1270 Propene C3H6

9. List Of CFC Refrigerants

We have quite a few CFC refrigerants. In addition to carbon atoms and olefins, CFCs also include chlorine and fluorine atoms. The notable exception are hydrogen atoms; namely, CFCs don’t include hydrogen atoms (H) in their molecular formula. Here is the CFC refrigerant list:

CFC Refrigerant: Chemical Name: Molecular Formula:
R-11 Trichlorofluoromethane CCl3F
R-12 Dichlorodifluoromethane CCl2F2
R-13 Chlorotrifluoromethane CClF3
R-111 Pentachlorofluoroethane C2FCl5
R-112 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloro-1,2-difluoroethane C2F2Cl4
R-113 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane C2F3Cl3
R-114 1,2-Dichlorotetrafluoroethane C2F4Cl2
R-115 Chloropentafluoroethane C2F5Cl
R-211 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-Heptachloro-3-fluoropropane C3FCl7
R-212 Hexachlorodifluoropropane C3F2Cl6
R-213 1,1,1,3,3-Pentachloro-2,2,3-trifluoropropane C3F3Cl5
R-214 1,2,2,3-Tetrachloro-1,1,3,3-tetrafluoropropane C3F4Cl4
R-215 1,1,1-Trichloro-2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane C3F5Cl3
R-216 1,2-Dichloro-1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane C3F6Cl2
R-217 1-Chloro-1,1,2,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane C3F7Cl
R-C316 Dichlorohexafluorocyclobutane C4Cl2F6
R-C317 Chloroheptafluorocyclobutane C4ClF7
R-400 R-12/114 Mixture Mixture
CFC ChloroFluoroCarbons Cl, F, C
CFC ChloroFluoroCarbons Cl, F, C

10. List Of CFO Refrigerants

We only have two CFO refrigerants – R-1112a and R-1113. Here is their chemical name and molecular formula:

CFO Refrigerant: Chemical Name: Molecular Formula:
R-1112a 1,1-Dichloro-2,2-difluoroethylene C2Cl2F2
R-1113 Chlorotrifluoroethylene C2ClF3

11. List Of PFC Refrigerants

PFO or PerFluoroCarbons refrigerants only include carbon and fluorine atoms. They have the highest fluorine content. Here is the PFC list:

PFC Refrigerant: Chemical Name: Molecular Formula:
R-14 Tetrafluoromethane CF4
R-116 Hexafluoroethane C2F6
R-218 Octafluoropropane C3F8
R-C318 Octafluorocyclobutane C4F8
R-3-1-10 Decafluorobutane C4F10
R-4-1-12 Dodecafluoropentane C5F12
R-5-1-14 Tetradecafluorohexane C6F14

12. List Of PFO Refrigerants

PFOs are basically the same as PFC refrigerants. The only difference is that we have some double carbon-carbon bonds (C=C) while PFCs only have single carbon-carbon bonds (C-C). Here is the list:

PFO Refrigerant: Chemical Name: Molecular Formula:
R-1114 Tetrafluoroethylene C2F4
R-1216 Hexafluoropropylene C3F6
R-1218 Hexafluoropropene trimer (C3F6)3

13. List Of PCC Refrigerants

PCC refrigerants are comprised solemnly from carbon and clorine atoms. There are only 2 PCC freons on the market, here they are:

PCC Refrigerant: Chemical Name: Molecular Formula:
R-10 Carbon tetrachloride CCl4
R-110 Hexachloroethane C2Cl6

14. List Of PCO Refrigerants

PCO were freons that contained high chlorine content with double carbon-carbon bonds (C=C). None of them are in use today.

15. List Of H Refrigerants

H or Halon (Halogen) refrigerants are comprised of hydrogen and halogens (these at from the 7th column in the period system of elements; atoms such as chlorine, fluorine, and bromine). Only H refrigerants contain bromine atoms. Here is the list:

H Refrigerant: Chemical Name: Molecular Formula:
R-12B1 Bromochlorodifluoromethane CBrClF2
R-12B2 Dibromodifluoromethane CBr2F2
R-13B1 Bromotrifluoromethane CBrF3
R-22B1 Bromodifluoromethane CHBrF2
R-114B2 Dibromotetrafluoroethane C2F4Br2
R-132bB2 1,2-Dibromo-1,1-difluoroethane C2H2Br2F2
R-141B2 1,2-Dibromo-1-fluoroethane C2H3Br2F

16. List Of Natural Refrigerants

Natural refrigerants are a special refrigerant category. They are not based on the atoms the freon consists of; rather, they are substances that be found in nature by themselves. These include ammonia, water, neon, nitrogen, oxygen, and even air. Here is the full list of natural freons:

Natural Refrigerant: Chemical Name: Molecular Formula:
R-630 Methylamine CH3NH2
R-631 Ethylamine CH3CH2(NH2)
R-702 Hydrogen H2
R-704 Helium He
R-717 Ammonia NH3
R-718 Water H2O
R-720 Neon Ne
R-728 Nitrogen N2
R-729 Air Mixture
R-732 Oxygen O2
R-740 Argon Ar
R-744 Carbon dioxide CO2
R-744A Nitrous oxide N2O
R-764 Sulfur dioxide SO2
R-784 Krypton Kr

This has been a categorical overview of the types of refrigerants and almost all freons from every category. Whenever you need to know what type of refrigerant you have (R-22, R-410A, R-134A, and so on), you can just look at these lists and simply check the freon type.

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