Which of the following is a desired characteristic of a chemical refrigerant?

A desired characteristic of a chemical refrigerant is its stability. Stability refers to the refrigerant's ability to resist chemical breakdown and maintain its properties under a range of operating conditions — including high temperatures and pressures commonly found in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. This characteristic is crucial because unstable refrigerants can decompose, potentially leading to corrosive byproducts that could harm the system and affect performance.

In addition to stability, other characteristics, like mixing well with oil and having the ability to easily change between liquid and vapor states, are also important. However, focusing on stability emphasizes the need for reliability and effectiveness in a refrigerant, making it a key characteristic that must be prioritized in refrigeration system design.