1
EPA 608 Certification Core Exam
2026/2027 Actual Exam | 100% Correct
Answers with Detailed Rationales | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Ozone Depletion and Environmental Impact
Q1: Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer that protects the Earth from harmful
ultraviolet radiation?
A. Troposphere
B. Stratosphere [CORRECT]
C. Mesosphere
D. Thermosphere
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ozone layer is located in the stratosphere, approximately 6 to 30 miles above the
Earth's surface. It filters out harmful UV-B radiation.
Q2: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) harm the ozone layer through which chemical process?
A. CFCs react directly with oxygen to destroy ozone
B. Chlorine atoms break away from CFCs and destroy ozone molecules [CORRECT]
C. CFCs create acid rain which depletes ozone
D. CFCs trap heat and melt the ozone layer
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When CFCs reach the stratosphere, UV radiation breaks them apart, releasing chlorine
atoms. A single chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules.
,2
Q3: Which of the following refrigerants has the highest Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP)?
A. R-22
B. R-12 [CORRECT]
C. R-134a
D. R-410A
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: R-12 (CFC-12) has an ODP of 1.0, which is the baseline for maximum depletion. R-
22 (HCFC) has an ODP of 0.05. R-134a and R-410A are HFCs with an ODP of 0.
Q4: Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from a depleted ozone layer is primarily linked to
which health risks?
A. Respiratory infections and asthma
B. Skin cancer and cataracts [CORRECT]
C. Cardiovascular disease
D. Neurological disorders
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: UV-B radiation is a primary cause of skin cancer and cataracts. The ozone layer's
primary function is shielding the earth from this specific type of radiation.
Q5: The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty designed to:
A. Tax the production of HFC refrigerants
B. Phase out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances [CORRECT]
C. Regulate the transportation of hazardous waste
D. Establish safety standards for HVAC equipment
Correct Answer: B
,3
Rationale: The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, is the international agreement that mandates
the phase-out of CFCs, HCFCs, and other ozone-depleting substances.
Q6: Which atom within a CFC molecule is primarily responsible for ozone destruction?
A. Fluorine
B. Carbon
C. Chlorine [CORRECT]
D. Bromine
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: While bromine also depletes ozone, the primary active agent in standard CFC
refrigerants (like R-12) is chlorine.
Q7: What is the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of a refrigerant a measure of?
A. Its ability to deplete the ozone layer
B. Its ability to trap heat in the atmosphere relative to CO2 [CORRECT]
C. Its flammability rating
D. Its toxicity level
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: GWP measures how much energy the emissions of 1 ton of a gas will absorb over a
given period, relative to the emissions of 1 ton of carbon dioxide (CO2). Higher GWP
contributes more to global warming.
Q8: Which of the following refrigerants is a Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)?
A. R-12
B. R-22 [CORRECT]
C. R-134a
, 4
D. R-410A
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: R-22 is an HCFC. It contains hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. R-12 is a CFC,
while R-134a and R-410A are HFCs (no chlorine).
Q9: The production of CFCs in the United States was effectively banned after which date?
A. January 1, 1990
B. January 1, 1995 [CORRECT]
C. January 1, 2000
D. January 1, 2010
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and the Montreal Protocol, the
production and import of CFCs ended on January 1, 1995.
Q10: Which of the following refrigerants is an HFC and does NOT contribute to ozone
depletion?
A. R-22
B. R-12
C. R-134a [CORRECT]
D. R-11
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: R-134a is a Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC). It contains no chlorine, thus it has an ODP of
0.
Q11: Why were CFCs originally considered "safe" chemicals compared to earlier toxic
refrigerants like ammonia?
EPA 608 Certification Core Exam
2026/2027 Actual Exam | 100% Correct
Answers with Detailed Rationales | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Ozone Depletion and Environmental Impact
Q1: Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer that protects the Earth from harmful
ultraviolet radiation?
A. Troposphere
B. Stratosphere [CORRECT]
C. Mesosphere
D. Thermosphere
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ozone layer is located in the stratosphere, approximately 6 to 30 miles above the
Earth's surface. It filters out harmful UV-B radiation.
Q2: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) harm the ozone layer through which chemical process?
A. CFCs react directly with oxygen to destroy ozone
B. Chlorine atoms break away from CFCs and destroy ozone molecules [CORRECT]
C. CFCs create acid rain which depletes ozone
D. CFCs trap heat and melt the ozone layer
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When CFCs reach the stratosphere, UV radiation breaks them apart, releasing chlorine
atoms. A single chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules.
,2
Q3: Which of the following refrigerants has the highest Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP)?
A. R-22
B. R-12 [CORRECT]
C. R-134a
D. R-410A
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: R-12 (CFC-12) has an ODP of 1.0, which is the baseline for maximum depletion. R-
22 (HCFC) has an ODP of 0.05. R-134a and R-410A are HFCs with an ODP of 0.
Q4: Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from a depleted ozone layer is primarily linked to
which health risks?
A. Respiratory infections and asthma
B. Skin cancer and cataracts [CORRECT]
C. Cardiovascular disease
D. Neurological disorders
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: UV-B radiation is a primary cause of skin cancer and cataracts. The ozone layer's
primary function is shielding the earth from this specific type of radiation.
Q5: The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty designed to:
A. Tax the production of HFC refrigerants
B. Phase out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances [CORRECT]
C. Regulate the transportation of hazardous waste
D. Establish safety standards for HVAC equipment
Correct Answer: B
,3
Rationale: The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, is the international agreement that mandates
the phase-out of CFCs, HCFCs, and other ozone-depleting substances.
Q6: Which atom within a CFC molecule is primarily responsible for ozone destruction?
A. Fluorine
B. Carbon
C. Chlorine [CORRECT]
D. Bromine
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: While bromine also depletes ozone, the primary active agent in standard CFC
refrigerants (like R-12) is chlorine.
Q7: What is the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of a refrigerant a measure of?
A. Its ability to deplete the ozone layer
B. Its ability to trap heat in the atmosphere relative to CO2 [CORRECT]
C. Its flammability rating
D. Its toxicity level
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: GWP measures how much energy the emissions of 1 ton of a gas will absorb over a
given period, relative to the emissions of 1 ton of carbon dioxide (CO2). Higher GWP
contributes more to global warming.
Q8: Which of the following refrigerants is a Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)?
A. R-12
B. R-22 [CORRECT]
C. R-134a
, 4
D. R-410A
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: R-22 is an HCFC. It contains hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. R-12 is a CFC,
while R-134a and R-410A are HFCs (no chlorine).
Q9: The production of CFCs in the United States was effectively banned after which date?
A. January 1, 1990
B. January 1, 1995 [CORRECT]
C. January 1, 2000
D. January 1, 2010
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and the Montreal Protocol, the
production and import of CFCs ended on January 1, 1995.
Q10: Which of the following refrigerants is an HFC and does NOT contribute to ozone
depletion?
A. R-22
B. R-12
C. R-134a [CORRECT]
D. R-11
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: R-134a is a Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC). It contains no chlorine, thus it has an ODP of
0.
Q11: Why were CFCs originally considered "safe" chemicals compared to earlier toxic
refrigerants like ammonia?
