Which product of the ultraviolet decomposition of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) acts as the catalyst for ozone decomposition?

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The question asks which product of the ultraviolet decomposition of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) acts as the catalyst for ozone decomposition.
Option 1: oxygen atoms. While oxygen species participate in ozone chemistry, the key catalytic agent initiating and sustaining the ozone-depleting cycle from CFCs is not simply atomic oxygen produced directly in the UV breakdown. The catalytic cycle involves a more persistent agent that can be recycled after each ozone destruction event.
Option 2: chlorine atoms. Chlorine released from CFCs under UV light can enter catalytic cycles that destroy many ozone molecules before being consumed, because a single chlorine atom can convert thousands of ozone molecules back to O2. This aligns with the established mechanism of ozone depletion where chlorine radicals catalyze ozone loss.
Option 3: fluorine atoms. While CFCs contain fluorine and UV exposure can generate various reactive species, fluorine radicals are not the primary catalyst in the well-supported ozone-depletion mechanism. Fluorine chemistry in this context does not sustain the same catalytic cycle that chlorine does.
Option 4: hydrogen atoms. Hydrogen atoms or radicals are not the main catalysts responsible for the dominant ozone-depleting cycles associated with CFCs. They may participate in other reaction pathways, but they do not drive the principal catalytic loss of ozone.
Option 5: carbon atoms. Carbon atoms released from CFCs are not the catalytic species driving ozone destruction. The critical, recurring catalytic agent in the classic ultraviolet decomposition pathway is the halogen (notably chlorine) derived from the CFC molecule.
In summary, the catalytic process that promotes ozone destruction under UV exposure hinges on a halogen catalyst released from CFCs, which can repeatedly destroy ozone molecules without being consumed in the overall cycle. The other options do not align with the established catalytic mechanism or fail to provide the persistent catalytic activity observed in ozone depletion scenarios.

Which product of the ultraviolet decomposition of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) acts as the catalyst for ozone decomposition?

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