What will reduce the stability of ozone-depleting organic refrigerant compounds?

• A. Oxygen and nitrogen
• B. Hydrogen and carbon
• C. Chlorine and bromine
• D. Fluorine and sulfur

Answer: (C)

The stability of ozone-depleting organic refrigerant compounds is primarily reduced by the presence of chlorine and bromine. These halogen elements play a crucial role in the breakdown of ozone molecules in the stratosphere. When chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or halons containing chlorine or bromine are released into the atmosphere, they eventually rise to the stratosphere, where UV radiation breaks them down. This process releases chlorine and bromine atoms, which can catalyze the destruction of ozone.

A single chlorine atom can destroy thousands of ozone molecules before it is deactivated, which makes compounds containing chlorine and bromine extremely effective at depleting the ozone layer. This is why regulations under the Montreal Protocol target substances that contain these elements for phase-out, as they pose a significant threat to the ozone layer's integrity.

While other options contain elements that play roles in various chemical processes, they do not have the same level of impact on ozone depletion as chlorine and bromine.