Question

An ozone layer is present at a height of 25-30 km from earth surface which protects us from U.V. radiation. A hole in the ozone layer is created due to human activity. Rohan, a student of chemistry strongly opposed the excessive use of freons in air- conditions, refrigerators, sprays for their ill effects on the environment.

On the basis of the above passage, answer the following questions:
a) Which activity has been causing ozone-hole?
b) What is the most serious effect of ozone-hole?
c) Write any two chemical reactions causing ozone layer depletion.
d) Mention the values associated with Rohan

Answer 1

Dear Student,

a) The usage of Freon and its leak is causing ozone holes and Freon trade name is Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and commercially available Freons are R133A, R22, R410A. Among them R22 is the main cause for massive ozone layer damage causing sink holes in the represented 25-30 km height range from earth.

b) Ozone is the barrier for preventing harmful rays mainly UV from sun, if ozone is depleted will leads to severe environmental issues from vegetation to human health conditions, one such devasting effect is skin cancer caused by sun UV rays.

c) The two reaction scheme of ozone depletion is expressed below,
$$\begin{gathered} Naturaldestruction: \\ {O}_3+UVlight\to O+O_2 \\ {O}_3+O\to 2O_2 \\ {O}_3+O_3\to 3O_2 \\ Man-madedestruction: \\ CC{l}_2{F}_2\stackrel{UVlight}{\to }\dot{C}Cl{F}_2+\dot{C}l\&\dot{C}lO \end{gathered}$$

d) The student Rohan value is associated with environmental protection and trying to make awareness of Freon harmful effects to the general public on ozone holes.

Regards.