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🧪 Chemistry  ·  Environmental Chemistry  ·  NEET & JEE

Over Antarctica, special conditions let ozone depletion accelerate sharply in spring. The key role of polar stratospheric clouds is that they:

Answer: Provide surfaces that convert inactive chlorine reservoirs to Cl 2.

  • A Directly absorb and destroy ozone molecules
  • B Warm the stratosphere and speed up all the chemical reactions
  • C Provide surfaces that convert inactive chlorine reservoirs to Cl<sub>2</sub>
  • D Emit chlorofluorocarbons stored during winter

Correct answer: C. Provide surfaces that convert inactive chlorine reservoirs to Cl<sub>2</sub>

Explanation: On ice-cloud surfaces, reservoir species (ClONO<sub>2</sub>, HCl) are converted to Cl<sub>2</sub> during the polar winter; returning spring sunlight photolyses Cl<sub>2</sub> to Cl radicals that catalytically destroy ozone.

Classical (London) SmogSources: coal burningSO₂ + particulates + fogReducing typeConditions: cold, humid,early morning, winterVisibility: very low (fog)London, 1952 - ~4000 deathsHarms: eyes, lungs, bronchitisPhotochemical (LA) SmogSources: vehicles, industriesNOx + hydrocarbons + UVOxidising typeConditions: warm, sunny,afternoon, summerProducts: O₃, PAN, acroleinLos Angeles (common in cities)Harms: eyes, rubber cracking

Classical smog is a reducing mixture of SO₂ and fog, while photochemical smog is an oxidising mixture generated by UV-driven reactions of NOx and hydrocarbons.

Concept context

Understand how human activities alter the atmosphere, water, and soil. Covers air pollutants, smog types, ozone depletion, acid rain, greenhouse effect, water and soil pollution, and the principles of green chemistry.

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