Talk:Ozone

Theory of CFCs breaking down O3

Ed, just wondering why you said it was a theory that O3 is broken down by chlorofluorocarbons? It has been observed.
Here is the common chemical reaction:
CFCl3 + UV(~310nm) ==> Cl + garbage
Cl +O3 ==> ClO + O2
(UV radiation breaks down a CFC molecule and releases a free chlorine atom. The chlorine atom reacts with ozone breaking it down to molecular oxygen plus highly unstable chlorine monoxide.)

--TimS 17:46, 8 May 2007 (EDT)

What I said was:

Some activists claimed that this ozone layer has been threatened in recent decades by the release of chlorofluorocarbons, on the theory that these act as catalysts to break down the O₃ molecules.

You have to take all three emphasized words together. They claim there was a threat to the atmosphere. Their claim was entirely based on theory - not on observation.

It's like some of the evolutionary claims about biochemistry: someone theorizes that the flagellum or the eye could come into being as the result of gradual accumulation of helpful mutations. It's just a theory - not a fact - until it is proven.

Newton's theory of gravitation is also based on a formula:

<math>F = \frac{GMm}{r^2}</math>

But it can't be called a "Law" of motion unless it fits the observed facts (see astronomy). --Ed Poor 17:53, 8 May 2007 (EDT)

It is in general chemistry textbooks from which I teach that light breaks the C-Cl bond, and that the Cl* can then abstract an oxygen atom from a ozone molecule. That can be determined by simple bond energies. This is not a liberal conspiracy.