Question

Locking of ______ and ______ free radicals is called Scavenging.

• A. Chlorine monoxide
• B. Chlorine

Answer 1

Scavenging

• Scavenging is a process in which specific molecules help us to protect ourselves from the damage caused by the free radicals.
• In the atmosphere, certain free radicals such as Chlorine monoxide ($\mathrm{ClO}$) and Chlorine ($\mathrm{Cl}$) are responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.
• To lock these free radicals in the atmosphere certain specific molecules are used.
• Nitrogen dioxide (${\mathrm{NO}}_2$) is used to scavenge Chlorine monoxide in the atmosphere.
• Methane (${\mathrm{CH}}_4$) is used to scavenge Chlorine free radicals in the atmosphere.
• These scavengers react with Chlorine monoxide and Chlorine-free radicals.
  $$\begin{gathered} \underset{\mathrm{Chlorine}\mathrm{monoxide}}{\mathrm{ClO}}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+\underset{\mathrm{Nitrogen}\mathrm{dioxide}}{{\mathrm{NO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Chlorine}\mathrm{nitrate}}{{\mathrm{ClONO}}_2}\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ \underset{\mathrm{Chlorine}}{{\mathrm{Cl}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Methane}}{{\mathrm{CH}}_4}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to \underset{\mathrm{Methyl}\mathrm{chloride}}{{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{Cl}}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+\underset{\mathrm{Hydrochloric}\mathrm{acid}}{\mathrm{HCI}}\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \end{gathered}$$

Therefore, locking Chlorine monoxide and Chlorine-free radicals is called scavenging.