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Home » Some time ago the formation of polar stratospheric clouds was reported over Antarctica. Why were these formed? What happens when such clouds break up by the warmth of sunlight?
Some time ago the formation of polar stratospheric clouds was reported over Antarctica. Why were these formed? What happens when such clouds break up by the warmth of sunlight?
CBSE | Chemistry | Class 11 | Environmental Chemistry | ncert exemplar
Some time ago the formation of polar stratospheric clouds was reported over Antarctica. Why were these formed? What happens when such clouds break up by the warmth of sunlight?

The ozone layer is being depleted. During the summer, nitrogen dioxide and methane interacted with chlorine monoxide and chlorine radicle, respectively, to produce chlorine sinks, avoiding ozone depletion.

ClO + NO2 (g) → ClONO2

Cl (g) + CH4→ CH3(g) + HCl (g)

ClONO2 (g) +H2O → HOCl (g) + HNO3

ClONO2 (g) + HCl → Cl2 (g) + HNO3 (g)

When the sunshine returned in the spring, it broke apart clouds, and sunlight photolyzed HOCl and molecular chlorine, forming chlorine radicles:

i

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