Chemistry of the Ozone Hole
Chlorine atoms can be freed from CFCÕs by UV
reaction
CCl3F + UV ¨ CCl2F + Cl
CCl2F2 + UV ¨ CClF2 + Cl
C2Cl3F3 + UV ¨ C2Cl2F3 + Cl
Once a chlorine atom is freed, it can destroy thousands of
ozone molecules before being
removed from the air
Cl + O3 ¨ O2 + ClO ClO + O ¨ O2 + Cl Moran and Morgan, Fig
2.19
CFC-11