MadSci Network: Environment/Ecology
Query:

Subject: How does Freon 12 travel to the ozone layer.

Date: Sat Apr 5 21:39:31 1997
Posted by: Duane Drebenstedt
Grade level: grad
School/Organization: No school entered.
City: greenwood State/Province: SC
Country: No country entered.
Area of science: Environment/Ecology
Message ID: 860297971.En
Message:
How does Freon 12 travel to the ozone layer.
From what I have read I understand the breakdown of the ozone layer to be caused by the
chlorine ions that are freed when sunlight of sufficient energy breaks the bond between
the rest of the freon molecule and the chlorine atom. The chlorine ion then reacts in some
manner to destroy many more ozone molecules.    My questions are these 1) The density
of Freon is much higher than air,  so how does the freon rise to sufficient height for the
air to thin enough for the unfiltered high energy radiation from the Sun to break its bonds
(Freon is a very stable compound, which means it takes a high energy photon to break it,
which means it must be high enough for the air not to filter out the high energy light)  2)
If you can think of a way the Freon reaches the proper altitude to be split, how do you get
it up there in sufficient quantities to do the damage we attribute to it.  3)What is the Per
cent of Ozone destroying chlorine from Freon compared to other sources such as
VOLCANOES, or SODIUM CHLORIDE from the ocean {the Navy has some interesting
research on how high salt water reaches before hurricanes and waterspouts} and where
can we find evidence to support the answers.

Re:How does Freon 12 travel to the ozone layer.

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