BAKU HIGHER OIL SCHOOL

Petroleum engineering

Principles of Chemistry

Coursework

Student: Malik Akgubayev

Topic: “Ozone Depletion”

Date of Submission: 27.11.2021

Instructor: Rena Abbasova

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Table of Contents

Introduction....................................................................................3
Main Body......................................................................................4
Conclusion.....................................................................................6
Referances.....................................................................................7

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Introduction

Before going into details of one of the major problems of modern life “Ozone depletion”,
it had better to begin with the history and definition of “Ozone layer”. Throughout the
human existence on the Earth, general opinion about what sky looks like did not
completely formed until 20th century when exploration of atmosphere was possible
owing to developed technology. Neveretheless, there were several attempts to get close
to the sky by means of balloons, the most succesful one of which belongs to Henry
Coxwell and James Glaisher expedition. To disclose story, they started the balloon flight
on September 5, 1862, which was described by J. Glaisher as follows:

“A flood of strong sunlight burst upon us with a beautiful blue sky without a cloud, and
below us lay a magnificent sea of clouds, its surface varied with endless hillocks, and
mountain chains, and with many snow-while tufts rising from it.”

At over 29,000 feet in the atmosphere, being under higher pressure Glaisher was
getting worse by the cold and altitude. According to his words, it was no more plausible
to move legs and arms; he was on the verge of death. Viewing all happening, Coxwell
was obliged to descend the balloon on the ground. Fortunately, both expeditors
survived after taking a huge risk to discover the secrets of the atmosphere.
Aforementioned event is supposed to happen because of low temperatures at that high.
However, in1902, Teisserenc de Bort sent instruments up in balloons that recorded
temperature and air pressure, followed by discovery of the fact that from certain altitude
temperature does not change, though before it was assumed that temperature keeps
declining by increase of high. Later, scientists theoretically proved that stratospheric
layer of the atmosphere, whose border is at 15-30 km above the ground level, was the
reason why the temperature experienced previously mentioned trend. To elaborate,
ozone molecules majorly localizing around stratosphere create ozone layer contributing
to temperature rise by absorption incoming solar radiation along with protecting life on
Earth from hazardous ultraviolet light. Talking about damage of UV light is worth due to
negative effects that it could have on human beings. Sunburns, cancers are most
broadly known illnesses caused by radiation.

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Main Body

Ozone layer comprises of only 0.00006% of atmosphere which indeed means that it is
more likely to dissapear in case of pollution and this phenomenon is called “Ozone
depletion”. There will be mentioned both causes and solutions to be taken to prevent
this problem.

Ozone molecules in the stratosphere under UVB light break into oxygen and atomic
oxygen, prior to oxygen atom going into interaction with remaining ozone molecules.
Considering the fact that reactions are cycling, ozone reform itself. Nonetheless, ozone
layer has been impacted by human activity.

O 2 UV light 2O
→

O+O2 → O 3 Ozone formation

O 3 UVB O2+O
→ Ozone breakdown

O+O3 → 2 O2 Termination

The most significant contributor to “Ozone depletion” is reported to be

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) mostly existing in refrigerants and plastic products.
Enterprises are prone to utilize the cheapest raw materials to make profit; therefore,
leading to ozone layer getting thinner. For example, if plants started manufacturing
products in this way it is evident that chemicals such as chlorine and bromine released
to atmosphere would react with ozone molecules. Given that, ozone layer would be
destroyed and would have holes inside, resulting in harmful UV radiation passing
through atmosphere without obstacles.

In the past, people unconsciously used CFCls as energy resource such as in aerosol
propellants, plastic foam blowing agents, and air-conditioning refrigerants, which led to
deterioration of ozone layer. Even though chlorofluorocarbons are consistent enough at
troposphere (first atmospheric layer), these compounds form extremely reactive chlorine
radicals by means of UV radiation energy splitting C-Cl bonds (reaction 1).

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C F 2 Cl 2 high UV C F 2 C l ∎ +Cl∎ (reaction 1)
→

Formed radicals of chlorine interact with ozone molecules producing a chlorine

monoxide radical and oxygen (reaction 2). That radicals continue to react with atomic
oxygen (reaction 3) leading to ozone layer vanish. This process is cycling for about 2
years.

O3 +Cl∎ → − ¿+O ¿ ClO∎

2
(reaction 2)

ClO
− ∎¿ +O →Cl ∎+O2 ¿ (reaction 3)

The provided graph reveals

data on how the amount of
total ozone declined from past
to present and how this trend
is expected to rise in
upcoming decades.
Corresponding to NASA,
ozone layer over Antarctica
initially was reported to
decrease and reach its
minima in 1990s while there
are some anticipations that ozone molecules are going to follow upward trend. To be
more precise, in 1987 there was taken the Montreal Protocol which was responsible for
countries to phase out the manufacture of all essential source of ozone depletion
particularly CFCs containing products. Consequently, it is predictable that ozone layer
will recover to its 1980’s levels over the middle parts of planet and over the polar
regions by 2050 and by 2065, respectively.

Synthetic greenhouse gases are frequently utilized instead of compounds destroying

ozone layer in refrigeration, fire fighting and other systems. However, though
implementing this method could save from ozone depletion, it is mandatory to manage
the levels of those exuded greenhouse gases in order to avoid another not less
worrying issue of climate change.

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Conclusion

Let us review what was represented in this report by starting from the story which was
desribing the mystery of the stratosphere in the Middle Ages. After that, there were
basic discussions about reactions with the participation of ozone molecules as a result
of which ozone holes were forming. Moreover, several negative consequences of that
ozone depletion, leading to descend of UVB light on the Earth surface, such as cancers
and radiation-related diseases amongst population were outlined. Additionally, the chart
illustrating the gradual alteration of the amount of ozone in the atmosphere was
provided to mention the major steps taken towards solution of this problem. As a
significant way of the protection of ozone layer, the Montreal Protocol was very effective
and therefore made world population more responsible by means of description of the
pollution that they made.

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Referances

[1] Priciples of Chemistry. Student Guide. Pages 111-112.

[2] https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/ozone-layer/

[3] https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/atmosphere/history-discovery-atmosphere

[4] https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/atmosphere/

[5] https://www.awe.gov.au/environment/protection/ozone

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