Question

What characteristic or characteristics of CFCs make them more likely than other chlorine compounds to reach the stratosphere?

1) Low boiling point
2) High stability
3) Low reactivity
4) All of the above

Answer 1

CFCs' high stability and low reactivity allow them to survive in the atmosphere long enough to reach the stratosphere, where UV light breaks them down and releases chlorine atoms that destroy the ozone.

Step-by-step explanation:

The characteristics of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that make them more likely than other chlorine compounds to reach the stratosphere are their high stability and low reactivity. CFC molecules, which are made up of chlorine, fluorine, and carbon atoms, do not decompose easily due to their chemical stability. This means they can survive long enough in the atmosphere to make their way into the stratosphere, where normal molecular degradation does not occur as rapidly as in the troposphere.

In the stratosphere, CFCs are eventually broken down by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, liberating chlorine atoms. These chlorine atoms then act as catalysts in the destruction of ozone (O3) molecules—each chlorine atom can destroy thousands of ozone molecules, contributing to ozone layer depletion which consequently allows more intense ultraviolet radiation to reach the Earth's surface.

Therefore, the correct answer to what characteristics of CFCs make them more likely than other chlorine compounds to reach the stratosphere are:

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