Chlorofluorocarbons Essay Research Paper Chlorofluorocarbons CFC is

Chlorofluorocarbons Essay, Research Paper

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) is a molecule made of chlorine, fluorine and carbon atoms. It s a stable but dangerous molecule. It used to be used in refrigerators, freezers and aerosol cans. It had been used as coolant in refrigerator propellants in aerosol sprays. It has been used as early as the 1930 s.

To find out why it s dangerous you first have to understand what Chlorofluorocarbons is. As I stated earlier it s made of chlorine fluorine and carbons. But it s also made of halogens which when combine with chlorine is extremely reactive. It combines to form CCL2f2 and CCL3F it becomes useful and desirable.

Chlorofluorocarbons don t react with other compounds so Chlorofluorocarbons is inert. Meaning it doesn t break down rapidly. It floats around and circulates in the atmosphere. Then it rises into the stratosphere and is exposed to ultra violet radiation. The ultra violet rays break it down. Causing the chlorine and fluorine atoms both of which destroy the ozone layer to be released.

Since this molecule is very stable and long lasting a lot of problems have already began to occur. In the earth s troposphere the CFC is virtually harmless to us. But when it travels to the stratosphere the CFC reacts with photons and break down. This is pretty much how it looks CCL2L2+PHOTON—- |CF2CL+CL.

CL alone is very reactive it can react with one ozone molecule and destroy it. After it destroys ozone it regenerates and goes onto other ozone atoms. This is what it looks like in a math perspective CL+O3- |CLO+O2 CLO+O– |CL+O2. It continues on like this for a very long time. ONE single CL atom can destroy approximatly 100,000 ozone molecules.

Thankfully this is being taken care of since it s been banned in the united states. The CFC is destroying the ozone layer which causes global warming. Due to that we ve been going through strange weather patterns like warm and then cold temperatures. Like last week how on Tuesday it was warm. Then on Thursday it snowed five inches this happenend cause of the toll of global warming.

The global warming can become more than just a weather disturbancce as you read this polar ice caps are melting. Causing the sea level to rise rapidily eventually drowning the earth. It can destroy the crops in middle america. There s already a big hole in the ozone layer over middle america.