ozone → ozone layer → absorb ultraviolet radiation → reducing amt of UV radiation that reaches earths surface
ozone layer found in upper layer of atmosphere called stratosphere
ozone molecules form when oxygen molecules interact with UV radiation from sun. ozone has formula and is allotrope of oxygen . has pale blue colour and pungent smell → electronics / photocopier smell
same ozone molecules - break up to reform oxygen when they absorb UV radiation. cycle happens naturally in stratosphere and maintains ozone layer. can be described using following equation
Depletion of Ozone Layer
CFCs - found in aerosol propellants, refrigerants, certain kinds of plastics
- contain elements chlorine, fluorine, carbon
when they are released and rise up into stratosphere - they can interact with UV radiation to produce chlorine atoms which react with ozone
| 1. UV radiation from sun breaks up CFC molecules in stratosphere to chlorine atoms. | within layer, chlorine atoms from CFCs reactg with ozone → form oxygen and chlorine oxide. chlorine oxide continues to break up another ozone molecule. chlorine atom is released and continues to attack another ozone molecule in chain reaction. | holes in ozone layer start to form. holes allow harmful UV radiation to reach the earth surface. |