Ozone Friendly World, Not Too Much To Ask For :)

The science makes its own progression and the world becomes the better place to live on. But the blessing of the science comes up with curses. We admire the luxurious life but the luxury sometimes comes up with destructions. In our daily life we use AC and refrigerators, which comes up with lots of CFC’s. It’s time to wake up and don’t make the luxury, destroy the life.



CFC (chlorofluorocarbon): CFCs invented by Thomas Midgley in the year of 1920.It is also known by its brand name feron. CFCs contain carbon, chlorine and fluorine. CFCs have been widely used as refrigerants, propellants (in aerosol applications), and solvents. CFCs are highly effective refrigerants that were developed in response to the pressing need to eliminate toxic and flammable substances, in refrigeration units and air conditioners. There are no natural sources of CFCs.



Applications: In late 1800s for Refrigerators used the toxic gases like ammonia (NH3), methyl chloride (CH3Cl), and sulphur dioxide (SO2), as refrigerants. But for the low toxic refrigeration from the year of 1930 CFCs are being used. Uses include refrigerants, blowing agents, propellants in medicinal applications, and degreasing solvents.

Reaction: The chlorine atom (Cl) behaves very differently from the chlorine molecule (Cl 2 ). The Cl catalyzes the conversion of ozone into O 2 .Bromine atoms are even more efficient catalysts; hence brominated CFCs are also regulated. Ozone layer absorbs the ultraviolet rays, but depletion allows more of this high energy radiation to reach the Earth's surface.

CFCs like trichlorofluoromethane (CCl3F) break down when exposed to solar radiation in the upper atmosphere.





Cl atom acts like a catalyst for the decomposition of ozone.

The newly formed ClO reacts with various spices, notably with atomic oxygen and reform as Cl atom.

The Ozone and the Ozone layer

OZONE: Ozone is a gas found in the atmosphere in very trace amounts. On average, every ten million air molecules contains only about three molecules of ozone. Chemically, the oone molecules consist of three atoms of oxygen arranged in the shape of a wide V. Its formula is O 3 . Ozone is acts as an air purifier, a water sterilizer, and a bleaching agent.

Ozone can be found in two regions of the atmosphere. 10% of total Ozone can be found in the troposphere (lowest-lying atmospheric region) and 90% of the ozone found in the stratosphere (The stratosphere begins between 5 to 11 miles above the earth's surface and extends up to about 30 miles.



The Ozone Layer: The Ozone in the stratosphere is commonly known as the ozone layer. The ozone layer absorbs the ultraviolet rays from those comes from the sun, hich can damage the life on earth. This is how the ozone layer protects the entire life on earth. Depletion of the ozone layer means more of the sun's UV-B radiation would penetrate the atmosphere and reach the earth's surface and damages the life on earth.



Depletion of the ozone layer

Effects of CFCs: CFCs developed back in the 1930's as non-toxic, non-flammable alternative to dangerous substances like ammonia for purposes of refrigeratin etc. But with time the use of CFCs increases and become a threat. The CFCs have an element named Chlorine. A very little chorine exists in the atmosphere, but CFCs are turned to be a good source for chlorine in the atmosphere. Scientists worldwide have considered that CFCs deplete the ozone layer. These chemicals flow miles above the Earth’s surface to the stratospheric ozone layer. This is a layer of ozone gas that protects us from the sun's powerful ultraviolet (UV-B) radiation. The CFCs have Chlorine, and it’s a massive destroyer for the ozone layer. A single chlorine atom can destroy a lot amount of ozone molecules and they create a whole in the ozone layer. The harmful ultraviolet ray enters directly through the ozone layer.



Few harmful effects of CFCs are given bellow:



1) The Chlorine in CFCs damages the protective ozone layer and made a Whole in it, which invite ultraviolet rays from the sun. These harmful ultraviolet rays can cause skin cancer.

2) The increased contact with ultraviolet rays can cause damage to eyes.

3) The CFCs Inhalation affects the central nervous system.

4) CFCs can cause damage to human Immune System. Contact with CFCs through skin might cause skin irritation or dermatitis.





Protecting The Ozone Layer: Scientists had discovered CFCs caused the depletion of the ozone layer, they have been phased out. Around 200 countries are working tgether to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of ozone-depleting substances. Because CFCs contribute to ozone depletion the manufacture of such compounds has been phased out under the Montreal Protocol, and they are being replaced with other products such as hydro fluorocarbons etc. In the year of 1990 United States made a law called “Clean Air Act” designed to control air pollution on a national level. It contains the ban of the release of refrigerants during the service, maintenance, and disposal of air conditioning and refrigeration equipment and for labelling of products that are manufactured with or contain CFCs.

Development of alternatives for CFCs The world first got to knoow aboutdamage in Ozone layer in the year of 1970. And in thte 1970s work on alternative compounds for CFCs begins.



Although a lot of CFCs have been phased out, but using old products that contains CFC can still harm. For good of mankind and good of nature we should not use an old product that contains CFCs. We should always recycle the old products and avoid anything that has CFCs. This is the duty for all of us.



World Ozone day 16 September 1994, was established by the United Nations General Assembly as WORLD OZONE DAY. This event commemorates the date of the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1987. The day is mainly intended to spread awareness of the depletion of the Ozone Layer and search for solutions to preserve it.

Like Picescorp on Facebook

Follow @Picescorp