Question

what does it mean by ozone depletion

Answer 1

reduction in the concentration of ozone in the ozone layer.

"this chemical contributes to ozone depletion



hope this will help you


Ozone depletion is caused by chemicals containing the elements chlorine and bromine, which are halogens. They are important components of a class of refrigerants called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that were in heavy use in the mid 20th century. CFCs are inert and able to migrate to the upper atmosphere on wind currents, where the sun's ultraviolet energy breaks them apart.

Chlorine and bromine atoms are highly reactive, and once freed from the CFC molecules, they react with the extra oxygen atom in ozone to produce the hypochlorite (ClO-) or hypobromite (BrO-) ions and molecular oxygen. These ions are still unstable, and they react with a second ozone molecule to produce more molecular oxygen and leave the halogen ion free to start the process over again.

The most severe depletion of the ozone layer occurs over the South Pole in late winter and early spring. At that time, the ozone layer is reduced to as little as 100 Dobson units, or about the thickness of a dime. Since it was discovered, this "ozone hole" has grown larger in each successive Antarctic winter before it disappears in the summer.

Answer 2

There is an layer of O3 (ozone) outside earth's atmosphere which protect us from uv rays and due to massive production of green house gases and Chloroflurocarbons it is depleting. Now an question would arise what would the CFCs do.


So answer is they react with O3 and brake oxygen oxygen bond which results in the formation of O2 and O. The latter is very reactive and react with CFCs to make new compound and thus Ozone depletes.

Thanks for asking