Atmosphere Interview Question:

What reactive halogen gases that destroy stratospheric ozone in atmosphere?

Submitted by: Administrator

Emissions from human activities and natural processes include large sources of chlorine- and bromine-containing gases that eventually reach the stratosphere. When exposed to ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, these halogen source gases are converted to more reactive gases also containing chlorine and bromine. Important examples of the reactive gases that destroy stratospheric ozone are chlorine monoxide (ClO) and bromine monoxide (BrO). These reactive gases participate in "catalytic" reaction cycles that efficiently destroy ozone. Volcanoes can emit some chlorine-containing gases but these gases are ones that readily dissolve in rainwater and ice and are usually washed out of the atmosphere before they can reach the stratosphere.
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