Ozone depletion and CFCs
Environmental Chemistry · Chemistry
Study notes
Why do CFCs harm ozone only in the stratosphere, not at ground level? Step 1: CFCs are inert at ground (non-toxic, stable — why they were popular!). Step 2: They drift up over decades to the stratosphere. Step 3: Intense UV there photolyzes C–Cl → Cl˙ radicals. Step 4: Cl˙ catalytically destroys O₃. Stability below, destruction above!