Question

Explain why Good scientific models can be tested and used to make predictions. What did Molina and Rowland's model of the interactions of CFCs and ozone in the atmosphere predict would happen to the amount of ozone in the stratosphere as the level of CFCs increased?

a) Scientific models are not testable and cannot make predictions.
b) Scientific models help understand complex phenomena and make accurate predictions.
c) Molina and Rowland's model predicted a decrease in ozone with increasing CFC levels.
d) Molina and Rowland's model predicted an increase in ozone with increasing CFC levels.

Answer 1

The model developed by Molina and Rowland predicted a decrease in the amount of ozone in the stratosphere with an increase in CFC levels, which was instrumental in international policy actions such as the Montreal Protocol.

Step-by-step explanation:

Good scientific models are essential in understanding and predicting complex phenomena in disciplines such as chemistry. They simplify reality, making it more comprehensible, while retaining the capability to generate predictions about the behavior of systems under study.

In 1974, Molina and Rowland's model of the interactions of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and ozone in the atmosphere predicted that as the level of CFCs increased, there would be a corresponding decrease in the amount of ozone in the stratosphere. Their work played a crucial role in global efforts like the Montreal Protocol, which aimed to reduce substances harmful to the ozone layer and prevent further depletion.