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Question

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R.

Assertion A: Despite the fact that Chloro Fluoro Carbons(CFCs) are evenly distributed over the globe, the Ozone depletion is significantly pronounced over the south pole.

Reason R: The presence of ice crystals over the south pole makes chlorine to oxygen bonding tougher.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

This question was previously asked in
UGC NET 2023 Electronic Science Question Paper (13-Dec-2023) (Shift 1)
The correct answer is

A is correct but R is not correct

Assertion A is correct: although CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) released at the earth's surface get mixed fairly evenly throughout the global atmosphere, the depletion of the ozone layer is far more severe over Antarctica (the south pole) than elsewhere, giving rise to the well-known seasonal "ozone hole."
Reason R is not correct as worded: the presence of ice crystals over the south pole does not make chlorine-to-oxygen bonding "tougher." The real scientific explanation is quite different — during the extremely cold, dark Antarctic winter, a strong, isolated polar vortex traps air over the continent, and the intense cold allows polar stratospheric clouds (made of ice crystals) to form. The surfaces of these ice-crystal clouds actually provide sites for heterogeneous chemical reactions that convert otherwise stable, unreactive chlorine "reservoir" compounds (like HCl and ClONO2) into forms that can be readily broken down by sunlight. When sunlight returns in spring, this reactive chlorine is released and rapidly, catalytically destroys ozone molecules, producing the seasonal ozone hole.
So the ice crystals actually help liberate reactive chlorine (which then destroys ozone) rather than strengthening any chlorine-oxygen bond — the mechanism proposed in Reason R misrepresents the underlying chemistry, even though the outcome described in Assertion A is scientifically accurate.
Hence, Assertion A is correct but Reason R is not correct.

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Similar Questions

  1. Which of the following substances has the least Ozone Depleting Potential?

  2. Assertion (A): High concentration of ozone in the lower troposphere is desirable.
    Reason (R): Ozone present in the atmosphere protects the living organisms on the surface of earth from the harmful ultra-violet radiation of the sun.
    Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

  3. Montreal protocol was signed in order to address which of the following environmental issues?


Important Questions from Ozone Layer Depletion

  1. Which of the following is a catalytically inactive (or reservoir) molecule containing chlorine in stratosphere?
  2. Choose the correct statement(s)

    A. O$_3$ in stratosphere is not completely effective in shielding us from UV-B
    B. UV-A is biologically least harmful.
    C. Chapman mechanism deals with only O$_3$ formation in stratosphere.
    D. Sunscreen lotions either reflect or absorb or scatter UV-B and UV-A
    E. UV-B helps in dissociation of O$_3$ molecule in stratosphere.

    Choose the correct answer from the options given below.
  3. Ozone layer depletion is a major phenomenon in :

  4. With regard to ozone depletion over Antarctica, select the false statement :
  5. Atmospheric life times of CFCs is typically in the range :
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