Organohalogen compounds in the environment

• Organohalogen compounds are molecules that contain at least one halogen atom joined to a carbon chain.
• Chlorofluorocarbons remain stable until they reach the stratosphere, where they break down by UV light to form chlorine radicals, which catalyse a breakdown of the ozone layer. The C-Cl bond has the lowest bond enthalpy and so is the bond that breaks.
• Process of chlorine radicals breakdown ozone

  
• The process of nitrogen oxide radicals breaking down ozone