Q. Which of the following statements about polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) is not correct?
A) Type I clouds are formed at about $- 77℃$ and contain solid $HNO_{3} \bullet 3H_{2}O$
B) Type II clouds are formed at about $- 85℃$ and contain some ice
C) A tight whirlpool of wind called polar vortex is formed which surrounds Antarctica
D) PSCs do not react with chlorine nitrate and $HCl$
Explanation
(d)
PSCs (polar stratospheric clouds) of type II provide a surface for the conversion of chlorine nitrate $(ClONO_{2})$ and $HCl$ into $HOCL$ and $Cl_{2}$
$ClONO_{2} + H_{2}O\overset{\ \ PSCs\ \ }{\rightarrow}\ HOCl + HNO_{3}$
$ClONO_{2} + HCl \rightarrow Cl_{2} + HNO_{3}$
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker
Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist
Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.