Class 11 Chemistry - Chapter Environmental Chemistry NCERT Solutions | What do you mean by ozone hole? What are

Welcome to the NCERT Solutions for Class 11th Chemistry - Chapter Environmental Chemistry. This page offers a step-by-step solution to the specific question from Exercise 1, Question 10: what do you mean by ozone hole what are its conse....
Question 10

What do you mean by ozone hole? What are its consequences?

Answer

In Polar Regions, stratospheric clouds provide the surface for chlorine nitrate and hypochlorous acid, which react further to give molecular chlorine. Molecular chlorine and HOCl are photolysed to give chlorine-free radicals.

Hence, a chain reaction is initiated. The chlorine-free radical is continuously regenerated, thereby depleting the ozone layer. This phenomenon is known as the 'Ozone hole'.

Effects of depletion of ozone layer

The ozone layer protects the Earth from the harmful UV radiations of the sun. With the depletion of the layer, more radiation will enter the Earth's atmosphere. UV radiations are harmful because they causes the ageing of skin, cataract, skin cancer, and sunburns. They cause death of many phytoplanktons, which leads to decrease of fish productivity. Excess exposure may even cause mutation in plants.

Increase in UV radiations, decreases the moisture content of the soil and damages both plants and fibres.

 

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