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Cl2, in the stratosphere, atomic (radical)
chlorine is very destructive because it depletes the greatly needed ozone layer
which protects the earth from ultraviolet radiation from the sun. in the
Antarctic stratosphere, molecular chlorine along with nitric acid are formed by
the reaction of hydrogen chloride and chlorine nitrate--both stratospheric
chlorine reservoir species. This process occurs on polar stratospheric clouds
which serve as the reaction sites. Once formed, Cl2 vaporizes into
the surrounding air as nitric acid--also formed in that process--binds with the
ice matrix. Cl2 is then photodissociated in sunlight (lambda <= 450
nm) into chlorine radicals. These chlorine radicals then catalytic destroy
ozone.
[Graedel, T. E. and Crutzen, Paul J. Atmospheric Change, An Earth System
Perspective. pgs 145-6. W. H. Freeman and Company, 1993.]
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