The Ozone And A Mexican Chemist

Since the later half of the 1990's, people around the world have awoken with the realization of how delicate the earth's environment really is

. Holes in the atmosphere were widely talked about then, and we all were told to look out for skin cancer by the news media. Suddenly man's exploitation of the Earth's natural resources was the focus of countless TV shows, magazine articles, and books. Although the same issues remain with us 30 years on, the situation hasn't improved much. Fortunately, at least a few strides in regard to the environment, have been made.

Returning now to the first 'discovery' of the hole in the ozone. Bringing the problem to the forefront of the world's consciousness, has been the work of three chemists: Mario Molina, Paul Crutzen and Sherwood Rowland. Mario Molina grew up to be interested in science, although he was born (in 1943 in Mexico City), to a prominent international diplomat and lawyer.. He earned his bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from National Autonomous University of Mexico, then went on to study in West Germany and finally Berkeley. Molina began working with Rowland in 1972 after completing his doctorate in chemistry. Together they researched (and discovered) chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) accumulating in the atmosphere.

Even early in the 1970's, it was clear to Molina and Rowland from their research, what the future held for the Earth's ozone layer. Molina began experimenting with methods to destroy the CFCs before they entered the atmosphere, but was never successful. He knew solar radiation would eventually demolish the CFCs, but it would also devastate the earth. It was through that experimentation that the chemists realised the decomposition of CFCs in the atmosphere would permanently obliterate the protective layer between solar radiation and the earth - the ozone.

At the same time as Molina and Rowland were making their alarming discoveries, halfway around the world another atmospheric chemist was working in the same field. The American and Mexican colleagues of the Dutch chemist Paul Crutzen saw the CFCs that he missed; he was focused on nitrous oxide emissions and their impact on the stratosphere. With out question, it was a humongous achievement by all three scientists.

In 1995 Molina, Rowland and Crutzen were collectively awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. The Nobel Prize had never been given to a Mexican citizen before Molina. Despite the grave implications of his research, Molina's achievement was certainly a reason for Mexico to celebrate. The nation was once again recognized on a global scale for the intelligence and talent that exists among its people.

by: Robert Nickel

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