Question

Which aerosol depletes the ozone layer?

Answer 1

Hint:During ozone depletion, chlorine free radicals convert ozone to oxygen. Identify the aerosol that can provide chlorine free radical.

Complete answer:
The stratosphere of earth atmosphere is covered with a layer of ozone. This ozone layer prevents the harmful UV rays from entering the earth atmosphere. Due to the depletion of ozone layer, harmful UV rays can enter earth 's atmosphere and this causes an increase in the temperature of earth. This leads to global warming. Chloro fluoro carbons, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide are some examples of ozone depleting substances.
The aerosols that depletes ozone layer are chlorofluorocarbons such as freon. The chemical formula of freon is \[{\text{CC}}{{\text{l}}_{\text{2}}}{{\text{F}}_{\text{2}}}\] .
Some other halogenated ozone depleting substances (ODS) also deplete ozone.
These chemicals account for the man-made chemical depletion of ozone.
A chlorine free radical is obtained due to breakdown of chlorofluorocarbons. This chlorine free radical is a highly reactive atom Approximately one lac ozone molecules can be destroyed with one chlorine free radical, through a chain reaction. Due to this reason, the rate of destruction of ozone is faster than the rate of formation of ozone. This results in the formation of an ozone hole. This happens in antarctica.
The chlorine free radical converts ozone into oxygen.
\[{\text{2}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{3}}}\xrightarrow{{{\text{chlorine free radical}}}}{\text{3}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}\]

Note:
Aerosol is a colloidal solution. The dispersed phase consists of fine solid particles or liquid droplets. The dispersion medium is air or some other gas.