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| Names | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name Chlorine monoxide | |||
| Systematic IUPAC name Chlorooxidanyl | |||
| Other names Chlorine(II) oxide | |||
| Identifiers | |||
3D model (JSmol) | |||
| Abbreviations | ClO• | ||
| ChEBI | |||
| ChemSpider | |||
| MeSH | Chlorosyl | ||
| UNII | |||
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| Properties | |||
| ClO | |||
| Molar mass | 51.45 g·mol−1 | ||
| Thermochemistry | |||
Std enthalpy of formation(ΔfH⦵298) | 101.8 kJ/mol[1] | ||
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in theirstandard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |||
Chlorine monoxide is a chemicalradical with the chemical formula ClO•. It plays an important role in the process ofozone depletion. In thestratosphere,chlorine atoms react withozone molecules to form chlorine monoxide andoxygen.
This reaction causes the depletion of theozone layer.[1] The resulting ClO• radicals can further react:
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:
There has been a significant impact of the use ofCFCs on the upper stratosphere, although 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 tworadicals react to formdichlorine 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 formdichlorine monoxide.
