Ozone
Depletion of the Ozone Layer * Function and location of the Ozone Layer
The ozone layer is a portion of earth’s atmosphere that contains high levels of ozone. Ozone (O3) is a triatomic molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen. Ozone is formed when oxygen molecules after absorbing ultra violet photon then converts a single O2 into two atomic oxygen radicals. The atomic radicals then combine with separate O2 molecules to create two O3 molecules. The main function of the ozone layer is to absorb harmful ultraviolet radiation. These ozone molecules absorb UV light, following which ozone splits into a molecule of O2 and an oxygen atom. The oxygen atom then joins up with an oxygen molecule to regenerate ozone. The ozone layer is located in one of the five layers called the stratosphere which is located about 10-50 km above the planet. The other layers are the troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere. Figure 1 shows location of the Ozone layer.
Equation for the formation of Ozone (ultra violet light+ O2 O+O), then (2O+2O2O3)
This Diagram shows the location of the Ozone layer. * Compounds that deplete the Ozone and their sources
Ozone can be destroyed by a number of free radical catalysts; the most important are chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) which contains chlorine, fluorine and carbon and bromofluorocarbon or halon which contains bromine or iodine. CFCs are mainly used as refrigerants, and then in 1995 they were the base compound used in aerosol sprays. Aerosol inhalers for asthma suffer and fire extinguishers also contain CFCs. Bromofluorocarbon was used in fire fighting equipment in areas where electrical equipment were housed because of its ability not to do any type of damage to electrical equipment. Volcanic eruptions are a small contributor to ozone damage, when a volcano erupts chlorine gas as a component of hydrochloric acid is released directly into the stratosphere along with sulphur dioxide causing damage to
The ozone layer is a portion of earth’s atmosphere that contains high levels of ozone. Ozone (O3) is a triatomic molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen. Ozone is formed when oxygen molecules after absorbing ultra violet photon then converts a single O2 into two atomic oxygen radicals. The atomic radicals then combine with separate O2 molecules to create two O3 molecules. The main function of the ozone layer is to absorb harmful ultraviolet radiation. These ozone molecules absorb UV light, following which ozone splits into a molecule of O2 and an oxygen atom. The oxygen atom then joins up with an oxygen molecule to regenerate ozone. The ozone layer is located in one of the five layers called the stratosphere which is located about 10-50 km above the planet. The other layers are the troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere. Figure 1 shows location of the Ozone layer.
Equation for the formation of Ozone (ultra violet light+ O2 O+O), then (2O+2O2O3)
This Diagram shows the location of the Ozone layer. * Compounds that deplete the Ozone and their sources
Ozone can be destroyed by a number of free radical catalysts; the most important are chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) which contains chlorine, fluorine and carbon and bromofluorocarbon or halon which contains bromine or iodine. CFCs are mainly used as refrigerants, and then in 1995 they were the base compound used in aerosol sprays. Aerosol inhalers for asthma suffer and fire extinguishers also contain CFCs. Bromofluorocarbon was used in fire fighting equipment in areas where electrical equipment were housed because of its ability not to do any type of damage to electrical equipment. Volcanic eruptions are a small contributor to ozone damage, when a volcano erupts chlorine gas as a component of hydrochloric acid is released directly into the stratosphere along with sulphur dioxide causing damage to