Editing Halocarbon (section)

== Uses ==

The first halocarbon commercially used was [[Tyrian purple]], a natural organobromide of the ''[[Murex brandaris]]'' marine snail.

Common uses for halocarbons have been as [[solvent]]s, [[pesticide]]s, [[refrigerant]]s, fire-resistant oils, ingredients of [[elastomer]]s, [[adhesive]]s and sealants, electrically insulating coatings, [[plasticizer]]s, and [[plastic]]s. Many halocarbons have specialized uses in industry. One halocarbon, [[sucralose]], is a sweetener.

Before they became strictly regulated, the general public often encountered [[haloalkane]]s as paint and cleaning solvents such as [[1,1,1-Trichloroethane|trichloroethane]] (1,1,1-trichloroethane) and [[carbon tetrachloride]] (tetrachloromethane), pesticides like [[1,2-Dibromoethane|1,2-dibromoethane]] (EDB, ethylene dibromide), and [[refrigerants]] like [[Freon]]-22 ([[duPont]] trademark for [[chlorodifluoromethane]]). Some haloalkanes are still widely used for industrial cleaning, such as [[methylene chloride]] (dichloromethane), and as refrigerants, such as R-134a ([[1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane]]).

Haloalkenes have also been used as [[solvent]]s, including [[perchloroethylene]] (Perc, tetrachloroethene), widespread in dry cleaning, and [[trichloroethylene]] (TCE, 1,1,2-trichloroethene). Other haloalkenes have been chemical building blocks of plastics such as [[polyvinyl chloride]] ("vinyl" or PVC, polymerized chloroethene) and Teflon ([[duPont]] trademark for polymerized tetrafluoroethene, [[PTFE]]).

Haloaromatics include the former [[Aroclor]]s ([[Monsanto Company]] trademark for [[polychlorinated biphenyl]]s, PCBs), once widely used in power transformers and capacitors and in building caulk, the former [[Halowax]]es ([[Union Carbide]] trademark for [[polychlorinated naphthalene]]s, PCNs), once used for electrical insulation, and the [[chlorobenzene]]s and their derivatives, used for [[disinfectant]]s, [[pesticide]]s such as dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane ([[DDT]], 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane), [[herbicides]] such as [[2,4-D]] (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), [[askarel]] [[dielectric]]s (mixed with PCBs, no longer used in most countries), and chemical feedstocks.

A few halocarbons, including acid halides like [[acetyl chloride]], are highly [[Reactivity (chemistry)|reactive]]; these are rarely found outside chemical processing. The widespread uses of halocarbons were often driven by observations that most of them were more stable than other substances. They may be less affected by acids or alkalis; they may not burn as readily; they may not be attacked by [[bacteria]] or [[Mold (fungus)|mold]]s; or they may not be affected as much by sun exposure.