Are Navy approved halocarbon refrigerants heavier than air?

• A. Heavier than air
• B. Lighter than air
• C. The same as air
• D. Neither heavier nor lighter

Answer: (A)

Halocarbon refrigerants used by the Navy are denser than air. Their higher molecular weight makes them settle in the lower parts of a space, so a leak will tend to pool near the floor and can displace breathable air. That’s why the correct answer is that they are heavier than air. They are not lighter than air, not the same density as air, and not neither.