Sponsor Area

Environmental Issues

Question
CBSEENBI12001914

Explain the relationship between CFCs and Ozone in the stratosphere.

Solution

CFCs find wide use as refrigerants. CFCs discharged in the lower part of atmosphere move upward and reach stratosphere. In stratosphere, UV rays act on them reacting with the Cl atoms. Cl atoms acts as catalysts and degrades ozone releasing molecular oxygen. Cl atoms are not consumed in the reaction. Hence whatever CFC are added to stratosphere, have permanent and continuing effects on ozone level. 
bold CFCl subscript bold 3 bold space end subscript bold rightwards arrow with bold UV bold minus bold C on top bold space bold CFCl subscript bold 2 bold space bold plus bold space bold Cl
bold CFCl subscript bold 2 bold space bold rightwards arrow with bold UV bold minus bold C bold space bold space on top bold CFCl bold space bold plus bold space bold Cl
bold Cl bold space bold plus bold space bold O subscript bold 3 bold space bold rightwards arrow bold space bold ClO bold space bold plus bold space bold O subscript bold 2
bold ClO bold space bold plus bold space bold O subscript bold 3 bold space bold rightwards arrow bold Cl bold space bold plus bold space bold 2 bold O subscript bold 2