The pollutant that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer is?

Question: The pollutant that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer is?

The pollutant that contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer is a class of chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). CFCs are synthetic compounds that contain chlorine, fluorine, and carbon atoms, and were widely used in refrigeration, air conditioning, foam insulation, and other industrial applications.

When CFCs are released into the atmosphere, they eventually drift upwards into the stratosphere, where they are broken down by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. This process releases chlorine atoms, which then react with ozone (O3) molecules to form chlorine monoxide (ClO) and molecular oxygen (O2).

The chlorine monoxide then reacts with another ozone molecule, regenerating the chlorine atom and further depleting the ozone layer. This process is known as the ozone depletion cycle, and it can have significant impacts on the environment, including increased skin cancer rates, harm to marine life, and damage to crops.

In response to the threat posed by CFCs to the ozone layer, an international agreement known as the Montreal Protocol was signed in 1987, which aimed to phase out the production and use of CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances. Thanks to this agreement and subsequent actions, the ozone layer is showing signs of recovery, although full recovery may take several decades.