When the submarine volcano Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai in the South Pacific erupted in January 2022, it was not only one of the most violent volcanic eruptions in modern times. The volcano also did something completely unexpected: it helped clean up some of the methane pollution it released. This phenomenon could potentially be key to how humans can slow global warming.
Is it worse than having methane?
Yes - Chlorine ions don’t just react with methane, they try to react with everything, including ozone… There used to be a big problem with a lack of ozone due to the use of CFCs in aerosols.
I was under the impression that the truly harmful part of CFCs was the F, given its higher reactivity and less natural presence as an ion in the environment.
Weirdly, no, the most harmful part of the CFCs was the heavier and less reactive Cl. Turns out F is too reactive to be as harmful.
Yeh the F quickly forms a stable compound with whatever it can because it is really keen to donate it’s electron. Cl sort of bimbles about, breaking up ozone left right and centre, lending it’s electron then going “ah no I think I want that back, ta” then eventually finds something with which to bond.