Ozone depletion

Ozone, formed naturally in the upper atmosphere, is beneficial because it absorbs ultraviolet radiation.

Chlorine atoms are formed in the upper atmosphere when ultraviolet radiation causes C–Cl bonds in chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to break.

Chlorine atoms catalyse the decomposition of ozone and contribute to the hole in the ozone layer.

Appreciate that results of research by different groups in the scientific community provided evidence for legislation to ban the use of CFCs as solvents and refrigerants. Chemists have now developed alternative chlorine-free compounds.

Students should be able to:

• use equations, such as the following, to explain how chlorine atoms catalyse decomposition of ozone:

$${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{l}}^{\bullet }+{\mathrm{O}}_3\to {\mathrm{C}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{O}}^{\bullet }+{\mathrm{O}}_2\text{and}{\mathrm{C}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{O}}^{\bullet }+$$