Which element released from CFC and HCFC refrigerants is chiefly responsible for destroying stratospheric ozone?
a.Nitrogen
b.Hydrogen
c.Chlorine
d.Carbon
Explanation
Chlorine atoms released from CFCs and HCFCs act as a catalyst, and a single chlorine atom can destroy thousands of ozone molecules before it is removed from the stratosphere. Carbon and hydrogen are part of the molecule but are not the ozone-destroying agent, and nitrogen is not the driver of this reaction. This is why chlorine-containing refrigerants have been phased out.
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