Ozone layer chemistry in doubt

2007/11/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Kimika
• Ingurumena

According to measurements from some NASA chemists, the Cl2O2 _{molecule breaks more slowly than} expected. Although some chemists did not give much importance to the data, the German chemist Markus Rex has discovered that this single data questions the most accepted theory of ozone chemistry.

According to the theory, among other things, the Cl2O2 _{molecule is very important} in the process of extinction of stratospheric ozone, since fragmenting releases reactive chlorine atoms. Fragmentation is believed to be rapid, but the measurement of NASA chemicals gave the opposite result. This questions theory. _The Cl2O2 molecule may _{not be} a rapid source of chlorine atoms, so it is not "responsible" for ozone loss. That's why Rex is worried because now they wouldn't know exactly how the ozone layer is reduced.