How does CFCs destroy the ozone layer?
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The chlorine is free to repeat the process of destroying more ozone molecules. A single CFC molecule can destroy 100,000 ozonemolecules. * CFC - chlorofluorocarbon: it contains chlorine, fluorine and carbon atoms. ** UV radiation breaks oxygen molecules (O2) into single oxygen atoms.
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When ultraviolet light waves (UV) strike CFC* (CFCl3) molecules in the upper atmosphere, a carbon-chlorine bond breaks, producing a chlorine (Cl) atom. The chlorine atom then reacts with an ozone (O3) molecule breaking it apart and so destroying the ozone. This forms an ordinary oxygen molecule(O2) and a chlorine monoxide (ClO) molecule. Then a free oxygen** atom breaks up the chlorine monoxide. The chlorine is free to repeat the process of destroying more ozone molecules. A single CFC molecule can destroy 100,000 ozone molecules.
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