Q. What is chlorofluorocarbon?

A chemical is some substance that has a definite composition. Ozone is a chemical which is made up of three particles of oxygen. Ozone forms a thick blanket on top of the clouds in the stratosphere. This layer of ozone protects Earth as of overexposure to ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. You are most likely familiar with the damage that exposure to ultraviolet radiation can do to your skin in the form of sunburn. Ultraviolet radiation can as well harm other animals and plants. In the 1980s scientists recognized that the ozone layer around Earth was becoming measurably thinner in some spots. In the 1970s scientists had experiential that large quantities of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) had accumulated in Earth's atmosphere.

CFCs are chemicals which contain fluorine, chlorine and carbon. CFCs were utilized as coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners and as propellants in spray cans because they were considered relatively nonreactive. A few scientists hypothesized that there might be a connection between the concentration of CFCs in the atmosphere and the thinning of the ozone layer.