Question

What is Ozone depletion? Give two reasons for it.

Answer 1

Ozone layer:

1. It is a highly reactive gas that is made of three oxygen atoms and is found in the upper Stratosphere, which is about 11-16 kilometers above the Earth’s surface.
2. The ozone layer is responsible for the absorption of the ultraviolet rays of the Sun.

Ozone depletion:

1. The thinning of the ozone layer to the presence of ozone-depleting substances is called ozone depletion.

Causes of depletion of ozone layer:

1. The depletion or reduction in the ozone layer is caused due to the use of various ozone-depleting substances by human beings.
2. The industries are the major sources of ozone-depleting substances such as chemical Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform, methyl bromide, nitrogen oxides, and halogens, etc.
3. These chemicals continuously find a way to reach the ozone and react with it which has led to the depletion of ozone and an ozone hole is formed.
4. Among all the chemicals, the chlorofluorocarbons (group of synthetic chemicals) released from refrigerators and air conditioners, have a major role in the depletion of ozone. The chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) produce “active Chlorine” (Cl and ClO radicals) in the presence of UV radiations, which react with ozone and destroy ozone catalytically by converting it into oxygen.