Chlorine monoxide

prefLabel
  • Chlorine Monoxide
definition
  • ClO - a radical species which plays an important role in the breakdown of stratospheric ozone over Antarctica. Formed by the photolysis of CFCs in the stratosphere and the subsequent destruction of an ozone molecule, these radicals can act as a catalyst in the destruction of ozone while not being destroyed themselves. ClO, reacting with a oxygen atom (present from the Chapman Mechanism), releases a free chlorine radical once again. As a result, one Cl atom can destroy thousands of ozone molecules before being sequestered as HCl or another reservoir species (see chlorine nitrate). [Earth Island Journal; v 7; page 18; 1992.] [Chronicle of Higher Education; v 38; pages A6-A7; 1992.]
broader
Abstract from DBPedia
    Chlorine monoxide is a chemical radical with the chemical formula ClO•. It plays an important role in the process of ozone depletion. In the stratosphere, chlorine atoms react with ozone molecules to form chlorine monoxide and oxygen. Cl• + O3 → ClO• + O2 This reaction causes the depletion of the ozone layer. The resulting ClO• radicals can further react: ClO• + O• → Cl• + O2 regenerating the chlorine radical. In this way, the overall reaction for the decomposition of ozone is catalyzed by chlorine, as ultimately chlorine remains unchanged. The overall reaction is: O• + O3 → 2 O2 This has been a significant impact of the use of CFCs on the upper stratosphere, however many countries have agreed to ban the use of CFCs. The nonreactive nature of CFCs allows them to pass into the stratosphere, where they undergo photo-dissociation to form Cl radicals. These then readily form chlorine monoxide, and this cycle can continue until two radicals react to form dichlorine monoxide, terminating the radical reaction. Because the concentration of CFCs in atmosphere is very low, the probability of a terminating reaction is exceedingly low, meaning each radical can decompose many thousands of molecules of ozone. Even though the use of CFCs has been banned in many countries, CFCs can stay in the atmosphere for 50 to 500 years. This causes many chlorine radicals to be produced and hence a significant amount of ozone molecules are decomposed before the chlorine radicals are able to react with chlorine monoxide to form dichlorine monoxide.

    一酸化塩素(いっさんかえんそ、chlorine monoxide)は、化学式 ClO· で表されるラジカル。形式的には次亜塩素酸から水素が脱離した形を持つ遊離基。 常温、常圧で気体であり、非常に不安定。オゾン層破壊物質でもある。 フロンガスに紫外線が当たり、フロンから遊離された塩素ラジカルがオゾンと反応すると、一酸化塩素と酸素が生じる。 一酸化塩素は周囲のオゾンと反応すると、さらにオゾンが破壊され、塩素ラジカルが発生する。 塩素ラジカルは上のサイクルに戻り、連鎖反応を起こしてオゾン層をさらに破壊する。 なお同じハロゲンでも臭素は塩素より強力なオゾン破壊物質であるのに対して、フッ素はオゾン層破壊には関与しない。これは成層圏で遊離水素イオン H+ と結合し、フッ化水素 HF になるためである。 なおフロンやハロンから遊離した塩化物イオン Cl-、臭化物イオン Br- も水素イオンと結合し塩化水素や臭化水素となるが、強力な紫外線で分解され再度塩化物イオン、臭化物イオンとなりオゾン破壊をする。(フッ化水素は結合が強く紫外線ではフッ化物イオン F- を遊離しないためオゾン破壊には関与しない)

    (Source: http://dbpedia.org/resource/Chlorine_monoxide)