Which statement about the GWP ranges of R-12 and R-410A is true?

Which statement about the GWP ranges of R-12 and R-410A is true?

• A. R-410A has a higher GWP range than R-12
• B. They have the same GWP range
• C. R-12 has a higher GWP range than R-410A
• D. Neither has a GWP

Answer: (C)

Global warming potential compares how much heat a refrigerant traps in the atmosphere over a set time, relative to CO2. R-12 (a CFC) has a GWP of about 10,000 on a 100-year basis, meaning it is thousands of times more impactful per unit mass than CO2. R-410A, a blend of HFCs, has a GWP around 2,000 on the same horizon. So R-12’s GWP value is much higher than R-410A’s, making the statement true. This difference reflects R-12’s long atmospheric lifetime and strong infrared absorption, which is why R-12 has been phased out in many applications in favor of lower-GWP alternatives.

Global warming potential compares how much heat a refrigerant traps in the atmosphere over a set time, relative to CO2. R-12 (a CFC) has a GWP of about 10,000 on a 100-year basis, meaning it is thousands of times more impactful per unit mass than CO2. R-410A, a blend of HFCs, has a GWP around 2,000 on the same horizon. So R-12’s GWP value is much higher than R-410A’s, making the statement true. This difference reflects R-12’s long atmospheric lifetime and strong infrared absorption, which is why R-12 has been phased out in many applications in favor of lower-GWP alternatives.