Question

What is the major reason of ozone depletion?

(a) Release of CO

(b) Release of CO2

(c) Release of CFC

(d) Release of CH4

I have been asked this question by my college director while I was bunking the class.

This interesting question is from Environmental Chemistry topic in portion Environmental Chemistry of Chemistry – Class 11

Answer 1

The correct choice is (c) Release of CFC

For explanation: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), also known as freons, are the major reason for depletion of the protective ozone layer which protects us from the harmful UV radiations, which can be hazardous to human beings and other living organisms. Exposure to UV radiations can cause skin cancer in humans. CFCs, when they reach the stratosphere, will be broken down into free radicals by the UV radiations to liberate chlorine free radical. This chlorine free radical will combine with the stratospheric ozone to form chlorine monoxide and molecular oxygen. In this way, the ozone gets used up and there will be lack of ozone available for protection against UV radiations. Thus, ozone gets depleted.