Fluorocarbons, sometimes referred to as
perfluorocarbons or
PFCs, are, strictly speaking,
organofluorine compounds with the formula C
xF
y, i.e. they contain only
carbon and
fluorine, though the terminology is not strictly followed. Compounds with the prefix
perfluoro- are hydrocarbons, including those with heteroatoms, wherein all C-H bonds have been replaced by C-F bonds. Fluorocarbons and their derivatives are useful
fluoropolymers,
refrigerants,
solvents, and
anesthetics.