You may have heard that there is a hole in the ozone layer and that this is worrying.But, after all, what is the ozone layer? Why does it have a hole? And is it really necessary to be worried?
Well, the ozone layer is a part of our atmosphere made up of a gas called ozone. This gas is made up of three linked oxygens. See your formula in the following illustration:
ozone formula
This layer is in the so-called stratosphere, one of the atmosphere layers, at a distance of about 20 to 35 kilometers from the earth's surface.
Location of the ozone layer in the stratosphere
The ozone layer is very important because it protects us from ultraviolet rays coming from the sun, which can be very bad for our health. It acts like a sunscreen for Earth.
The ozone layer protects the Earth from the Sun's ultraviolet rays
However, people have started to use some products such as refrigerators, refrigerators and sprays, who had a group of substances known as CFCs. This acronym comes from the name chlorofluorocarbons, that is, substances formed by atoms of chlorine, fluorine and carbon.
When we use a spray that contains CFCs, for example, they float in the air and end up in the ozone layer. It turns out that mixing CFCs with ozone produces a reaction that causes the ozone to change into other substances. In this way, the ozone that protects the Earth disappears.
Products containing CFCs
For this ozone layer depletion reaction to occur in a stronger way, certain climatic conditions are needed, such as cold and sunlight. Antarctica presents these conditions and, therefore, the hole in the ozone layer is over this region.
We have to worry about this situation and take certain precautions to reduce this hole in the ozone layer. For this, it is important that each of us stop using products that contain CFCs. Always look on the packaging, especially for products like spray, if it says “Does not contain CFC”. Today most of these products use other substances instead.
Also, avoid large exposures to the sun and always use sunscreen. ←
Always wear protection from the sun
By Jennifer Fogaça
Graduated in Chemistry
