Which of the following gas is not directly responsible for Ozone depletion?

The correct answer is Carbon dioxide.

Key Points

• Carbon dioxide prevents the formation of new ozone molecules in the troposphere.
  • Hence, it is not directly responsible for Ozone depletion.
• ​Ozone
  • It is constituted of three oxygen molecules.
  • It is concentrated in the atmosphere between 15-20 km in the Stratosphere.
  • The ozone layer is the thin shield high up in the sky that stops ultraviolet rays from reaching the earth.
  • It traps harmful Ultraviolet rays and hence, protects us from it.
• Ozone layer depletion is the thinning of the ozone layer.
  • When chlorine and bromine atoms come into contact with ozone in the stratosphere, they destroy ozone molecules.
  • One chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules before it is removed from the stratosphere.
• Ozone-depleting substances are-
  • chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
  • hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
  • hydrobromoflurocarbons (HBFCs)
  • halons
  • methyl bromide
  • carbon tetrachloride
  • methyl chloroform
  • nitrous oxides

Additional Information

• The substances are mostly used in-
  • refrigerants in commercial, home and vehicle air conditioners and refrigerators
  • foam blowing agents
  • components in electrical equipment
  • industrial solvents
  • solvents for cleaning (including dry cleaning)
  • aerosol spray propellants
  • fumigants