Chlorofluorocarbons CFCs are synthetic chemicals that were once widely used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and as propellants in aerosol sprays. When released into the atmosphere, CFCs rise and eventually reach the stratosphere, where they are broken down by ultraviolet UV radiation from the sun. This breakdown releases chlorine atoms, which then participate in a series of chemical reactions that lead to the depletion of the ozone layer.The ozone depletion process involves the following chemical reactions:1. Photodissociation of CFCs:CFCs are broken down by UV radiation, releasing chlorine atoms.CFCl3 + UV CFCl2 + Cl2. Chlorine reacts with ozone O3 :The released chlorine atoms react with ozone molecules, forming chlorine monoxide ClO and molecular oxygen O2 .Cl + O3 ClO + O23. Chlorine monoxide reacts with atomic oxygen:ClO reacts with atomic oxygen O , which is also present in the stratosphere, to form molecular oxygen O2 and regenerate the chlorine atom.ClO + O Cl + O24. Regenerated chlorine atoms:The regenerated chlorine atoms can then react with more ozone molecules, repeating steps 2 and 3. This creates a catalytic cycle in which a single chlorine atom can destroy thousands of ozone molecules.The overall reaction for ozone depletion is:O3 + O 2O2The presence of CFCs in the atmosphere leads to ozone depletion by releasing chlorine atoms, which participate in a catalytic cycle that destroys ozone molecules. This depletion of the ozone layer allows more harmful UV radiation to reach the Earth's surface, posing risks to human health and the environment. As a result, the production and use of CFCs have been phased out under the Montreal Protocol, an international agreement designed to protect the ozone layer.