CHM310H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Chlorofluorocarbon, Halocarbon, Montreal Protocol
Document Summary
Methane: why is methane h bonded more in the n. pole rather than in the southpole, the reaction with the hydroxyl radical. Hydroxyl radical is the single most important radical to keep the atmosphere cleansed: generally, in biological entities like methane, n20, gasoline from engines, hydrocarbons. So we get chemically reduced compounds in the atmosphere. There is a huge huge driving force to get oxidized the c to co2: this is what happens. Atmopshere does oxidize the compounds over: the mechanism which this happens is through radicals, and not through o, hydroxyl is there about 0. 1ppt. There is a little concentration of it, but it is very active, it drives the oxidation reaction: the source of hydroxyl atoms, we have ozone in the atmosphere. We need wavelengths lesser than 310nm through this. Just a little silvery uv light is enough. Then we form o2 molecules + an electron excited molecule.
