3.10.3

Ozone Depletion

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Ozone Depletion

Between 1928 and 1978, halogenoalkanes called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were widely used in industry. These CFCs often escaped into the atmosphere where they depleted the ozone layer.

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CFCs and ozone

  • A CFC is a chloroflurocarbon molecule.
    • CFCs only contain carbon, chlorine and fluorine atoms.
  • Ozone has the formula O3.
    • O3 is much less stable than O2.
    • O3 is formed from O2 and UV light.
    • O3 is present in low concentrations.
      • Its highest concentrations are in the ozone layer of the Earth's atmosphere.
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Ozone depletion

  • Chlorofluorocarbons undergo photolysis in the atmosphere.
    • Photolysis means ‘broken down by light’.
  • This process creates chlorine radicals.
  • Chlorine radicals react with ozone (O3).
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Mechanism for ozone depletion

  • The destruction of ozone is a free radical mechanism.
  • The initiation step is:
    • Cl2light2ClCl_2 \xrightarrow[\text{}]{\text{light}} 2Cl\bullet
  • The propagation steps are:
    • Cl+O3ClO+O2Cl\bullet + O_3 \rightarrow ClO\bullet + O_2
    • ClO+O32O2+ClClO\bullet +O_3 \rightarrow 2O_2 + Cl\bullet
  • The termination step is:
    • 2ClCl22Cl\bullet \rightarrow Cl_2
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CFC bans

  • CFCs were used in aerosols, as coolants in fridges and as solvents in industry.
  • Scientists collected evidence in the 1970s that they were damaging the ozone layer.
  • This led to bans, beginning with Sweden in 1978, and the development of safer alternatives like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrocarbons.

Jump to other topics

1Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter

2Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure

3Structure - Classification of Matter

3.1The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements

3.2Periodic Trends

3.3Group 1 Alkali Metals

3.4Halogens

3.5Noble gases, group 18

3.6Functional Groups: Classification of Organic

3.7Functional Group Chemistry

3.8Alkanes

3.9Alcohols

3.10Halogenoalkanes

4Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?

5Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?

6Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change

7Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis

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