ASE 609 Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling
Certification Exam| EPA Section 609 MVAC
Certification Questions with Answers and
Rationales
Instructions: This exam contains multiple-choice questions covering the core content tested on the ASE
Section 609 Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling examination. Topics include environmental impact of
refrigerants, EPA regulations, refrigerant identification, recovery and recycling procedures, safety, and
service equipment.
1. Which component of CFC refrigerant is the cause of ozone depletion?
A. Carbon
B. Fluorine
C. Chlorine
D. Hydrogen
Correct Answer: C — Chlorine
Rationale: Chlorine atoms released from CFC molecules are the primary cause of
stratospheric ozone depletion. Each chlorine atom can destroy thousands of
ozone molecules before being removed from the stratosphere .
2. The stratospheric ozone layer protects us from:
,A. Infrared radiation
B. Ultraviolet radiation
C. Gamma radiation
D. Alpha radiation
Correct Answer: B — Ultraviolet radiation
Rationale: The ozone layer filters out most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV)
radiation, which can cause skin cancer, eye cataracts, and damage to plant and
marine life .
3. The reduction of ozone in the stratosphere could cause:
A. An increase in skin cancer and eye cataracts
B. An increase in plant life growth
C. An increase in the earth's polar ice
D. An increase in marine life growth
Correct Answer: A — An increase in skin cancer and eye cataracts
Rationale: Increased UV radiation reaching the earth's surface due to ozone
depletion is linked to higher rates of skin cancer and eye cataracts in humans, as
well as harm to crops and marine ecosystems .
,4. Technician A says that sunlight striking CFC molecules can cause chlorine to be
released. Technician B says that chlorine atoms react with ozone to produce
chlorine monoxide. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
Correct Answer: C — Both A and B
Rationale: UV radiation in sunlight breaks CFC molecules apart, releasing chlorine
atoms. These chlorine atoms then react with ozone (O3) to form chlorine
monoxide (ClO) and oxygen, destroying the ozone molecule .
5. Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) is defined as:
A. A chemical rating that refers to the amount of ozone depletion caused by a
substance compared to CFC-11
B. The amount of refrigerant that leaks from a system
C. The pressure at which a refrigerant boils
D. The temperature at which a refrigerant condenses
, Correct Answer: A — A chemical rating that refers to the amount of ozone
depletion caused by a substance compared to CFC-11
Rationale: ODP is a chemical rating that ranges from 0.01 to 1.0 and refers to the
amount of ozone depletion caused by a substance compared to CFC-11, which has
an ODP of 1.0. For example, HCFC-22 depletes 0.034 of the ozone where CFC-11
would deplete 1.0 .
6. A Class 1 substance is defined as an ozone-depleting chemical with an ODP
greater than:
A. 0.1
B. 0.2
C. 0.5
D. 1.0
Correct Answer: B — 0.2
Rationale: A Class 1 substance is an ozone-depleting chemical with an ODP
greater than 0.2, such as CFCs .
7. A Class 2 substance is defined as an ozone-depleting chemical with an ODP:
Certification Exam| EPA Section 609 MVAC
Certification Questions with Answers and
Rationales
Instructions: This exam contains multiple-choice questions covering the core content tested on the ASE
Section 609 Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling examination. Topics include environmental impact of
refrigerants, EPA regulations, refrigerant identification, recovery and recycling procedures, safety, and
service equipment.
1. Which component of CFC refrigerant is the cause of ozone depletion?
A. Carbon
B. Fluorine
C. Chlorine
D. Hydrogen
Correct Answer: C — Chlorine
Rationale: Chlorine atoms released from CFC molecules are the primary cause of
stratospheric ozone depletion. Each chlorine atom can destroy thousands of
ozone molecules before being removed from the stratosphere .
2. The stratospheric ozone layer protects us from:
,A. Infrared radiation
B. Ultraviolet radiation
C. Gamma radiation
D. Alpha radiation
Correct Answer: B — Ultraviolet radiation
Rationale: The ozone layer filters out most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV)
radiation, which can cause skin cancer, eye cataracts, and damage to plant and
marine life .
3. The reduction of ozone in the stratosphere could cause:
A. An increase in skin cancer and eye cataracts
B. An increase in plant life growth
C. An increase in the earth's polar ice
D. An increase in marine life growth
Correct Answer: A — An increase in skin cancer and eye cataracts
Rationale: Increased UV radiation reaching the earth's surface due to ozone
depletion is linked to higher rates of skin cancer and eye cataracts in humans, as
well as harm to crops and marine ecosystems .
,4. Technician A says that sunlight striking CFC molecules can cause chlorine to be
released. Technician B says that chlorine atoms react with ozone to produce
chlorine monoxide. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
Correct Answer: C — Both A and B
Rationale: UV radiation in sunlight breaks CFC molecules apart, releasing chlorine
atoms. These chlorine atoms then react with ozone (O3) to form chlorine
monoxide (ClO) and oxygen, destroying the ozone molecule .
5. Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) is defined as:
A. A chemical rating that refers to the amount of ozone depletion caused by a
substance compared to CFC-11
B. The amount of refrigerant that leaks from a system
C. The pressure at which a refrigerant boils
D. The temperature at which a refrigerant condenses
, Correct Answer: A — A chemical rating that refers to the amount of ozone
depletion caused by a substance compared to CFC-11
Rationale: ODP is a chemical rating that ranges from 0.01 to 1.0 and refers to the
amount of ozone depletion caused by a substance compared to CFC-11, which has
an ODP of 1.0. For example, HCFC-22 depletes 0.034 of the ozone where CFC-11
would deplete 1.0 .
6. A Class 1 substance is defined as an ozone-depleting chemical with an ODP
greater than:
A. 0.1
B. 0.2
C. 0.5
D. 1.0
Correct Answer: B — 0.2
Rationale: A Class 1 substance is an ozone-depleting chemical with an ODP
greater than 0.2, such as CFCs .
7. A Class 2 substance is defined as an ozone-depleting chemical with an ODP:
