Which chemical is primarily responsible for ozone depletion?
Practice Questions
Q1
Which chemical is primarily responsible for ozone depletion?
Carbon Dioxide
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Methane
Sulfur Dioxide
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which chemical is primarily responsible for ozone depletion?
Step 1: Understand what ozone is. Ozone is a gas found in the Earth's stratosphere that protects us from harmful UV rays from the sun.
Step 2: Learn about ozone depletion. Ozone depletion means that there is less ozone in the stratosphere, which can lead to more UV rays reaching the Earth.
Step 3: Identify the chemicals that can harm ozone. Some chemicals can break down ozone molecules.
Step 4: Focus on Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). CFCs are a type of chemical that was commonly used in products like refrigerators and aerosol sprays.
Step 5: Understand how CFCs affect ozone. When CFCs are released into the atmosphere, they eventually reach the stratosphere, where they break down and release chlorine atoms that destroy ozone.
Step 6: Conclude that CFCs are primarily responsible for ozone depletion because they are the main chemicals that cause the breakdown of ozone in the stratosphere.