Question:

Which of the following free radicals helps in depletion of the ozone layer?

Updated On: Aug 4, 2024
  • NO
  • Cl
  • OH
  • CH3
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The Correct Option is B

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The correct option is (B): Cl

The depletion of the ozone layer is mainly caused by the presence of free radicals containing chlorine and/or bromine atoms, which are collectively referred to as halogen radicals.

The two most important halogen radicals responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer are:

  1. Chlorine radical (Cl•)
  2. Bromine radical (Br•)

These free radicals are formed from the breakdown of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other halogenated compounds, which were widely used as refrigerants, propellants, and solvents before their harmful effects on the ozone layer were discovered.

When CFCs and other halogenated compounds are released into the atmosphere, they are carried up into the stratosphere by natural air currents. In the stratosphere, the compounds are broken down by the intense ultraviolet radiation from the sun, releasing chlorine and/or bromine atoms as free radicals.

Once released, these halogen radicals can react with ozone (O3) molecules, breaking them down into oxygen (O2) molecules and leaving behind more free radicals to continue the cycle of ozone destruction. This process is known as ozone depletion and leads to the thinning of the ozone layer.

Therefore, the free radicals that help in the depletion of the ozone layer are the halogen radicals, particularly the chlorine and bromine radicals.

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Concepts Used:

Molecular Orbital Theory

The Molecular Orbital Theory is a more sophisticated model of chemical bonding where new molecular orbitals are generated using a mathematical process called Linear Combination of Atomic Orbitals (LCAO).

Molecular Orbital theory is a chemical bonding theory that states that individual atoms combine together to form molecular orbitals. Due to this arrangement in MOT Theory, electrons associated with different nuclei can be found in different atomic orbitals. In molecular orbital theory, the electrons present in a molecule are not assigned to individual chemical bonds between the atoms. Rather, they are treated as moving under the influence of the atomic nuclei in the entire molecule

Molecular Orbital Theory
Molecular Orbital Theory