Weather

What is a hole caused by pollutants breaking down the third atom into oxygen gas?

Posted Updated

By
Brandon

MIKE MOSS SAYS:        Brandon,      The only answer that comes to mind given your phrasing of the question is that you are referring to the "ozone hole" observed in Arctic areas that results from chemical reactions in the upper atmosphere, associated largely with chlorofluorcarbon and halon emissions, that break ozone molecules (O3) into diatomic and molecular oxygen (O2 and O - it's more complicated than that, but that is the gist of the problem). You can read much more about the issue at

http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/index.html

 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.