Ozone Layer and Ozone ‘Holes’ Concepts

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary terms and concepts related to the ozone layer and its associated chemical processes.

Ozone Layer

A region of Earth's stratosphere that contains a high concentration of ozone (O3) and protects living organisms from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Ozone

A molecule made up of three oxygen atoms (O3) that absorbs the majority of the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.

UV Radiation

Ultraviolet radiation, a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible light, divided into three types: UVA, UVB, and UVC.

Photolysis

The process by which molecules are broken down by photons, particularly in reactions involving UV light.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Chemical compounds that can deplete the ozone layer, historically used as refrigerants and propellants.

Montreal Protocol

An international treaty designed to phase out the production and consumption of substances that deplete the ozone layer.

Dobson Unit (DU)

A unit of measurement for the total amount of ozone in a column of air, equivalent to a 0.001 cm thick layer of pure ozone at standard temperature and pressure.

Polar Vortex

A large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding the Earth's poles that can influence the development of the Antarctic ozone hole.

Steady State

A condition where the concentration of substances remains constant over time in a given system, such as the balance of ozone in the stratosphere.

Mechanism I

A chemical process involving the catalytic destruction of ozone by chlorine atoms released from CFCs.

Mechanism II

A process describing the ozone depletion in Antarctica in which chlorine is regenerated and contributes to further ozone destruction.