The full name for CFCs is chloroflourocarbons, which just means that these synthetic compounds include chlorine (chloro), flourine (flouro) and carbon.
CFCs are used
- to produce cold air in refrigerators and air conditioners,
- to make plastic foams for furniture, insulation, etc.
- for aerosol in spray cans.
The problem is that when CFCs are released into the air they can get to the stratosphere (one of the layers of atmosphere around the earth) and destroy ozone gas. This can create a "hole" in the ozone layer around the earth and allow in more ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
A really good site to learn about this is in "How Stuff Works." Here's a quote that explains how CFCs deplete ozone:
CFCs, which are man-made, gradually rise up into the ozone layer, where ultraviolet light breaks the compounds apart, which releases chlorine. A chlorine atom can steal an oxygen atom from an ozone molecule, creating oxygen gas and chlorine monoxide (ClO), which effectively destroys the ozone molecule. But the chlorine atom isn't done yet; a chlorine atom can break from its oxygen atom and wreak havoc on as many as 10,000 more ozone molecules. . . After years of unrestrained CFC production, the ozone would deplete significantly. [sources removed from quote]
Here's the link to that article -- there are other related articles that are useful, too.
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