It was discovered that mercury is stable enough to accumulate in the lower stratosphere. It has also been found that mercury reacts with halogen free radicals in the atmosphere in much of the same manner as ozone, oxidizing in the presence of various species involved in cyclic chemistries that deplete ozone and create mercury salts that precipitate. The purpose of this study is to determine if it is possible for mercury to effect ozone depletion in the lower stratosphere. By comparing rate constants and thermochemical properties of several mercury-halogen, and ozone-halogen reactions it will be possible to establish if competition with the halogen free radicals is possible between the two species.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Hutchins, Jason M
• Hilfer, Thomas Clemence
• Wessling, Kyle J

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-030108-083658

Advisor

• Wilcox, Jennifer L.

Year

• 2008

Date created

• 2008-03-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2021-02-04