The Nobel Prize also speaks Spanish Jessica Hernandez and Dr. Phillips Cumberland University

Mario Molina and the Nobel CFCs and the decay of legacy of Hispanic Prize the ozone layer inspiration José Mario Molina Pasquel y • In 1973, the scientist Mario • This became a concerning topic when they compared Henríquez Better known as Molina and Frank Sherwood the industrial amounts of CFCs to the amounts of Mario Molina, is a Mexican Rowland started to work on nitrogen oxides which control ozone levels and figured chemical engineer. He was co- determining the out that it would cause a depletion of the Earth’s recipient with Paul J. Crutzen environmental fate of the stratospheric ozone layer. (figure 3) and Frank Sherwood Rowland chlorofluorocarbons . • Thanks to his studies, he helped raise awareness about of the 1995 Nobel Prize in (CFCs)(figure 2). the environmental damage contributed by humans. Chemistry for their role in • Dr. Molina predicted the thinning of the ozone layer and elucidating the threat to the • This molecules had been the problems its deterioration would bring, such as accumulating in the Figure 2: Molecules of Earth's ozone layer from the CFCs (clorofluorocarbons) global warming and thousands of skin diseases caused gases chlorine, bromine, atmosphere and were thought by UV rays. to have no significant effects carbon dioxide. • He is the third Mexican to win the Nobel Prize, and the on the environment. first one in chemistry. which generate inspiration to all • The CFCs, are released into the atmosphere following Hispanic scientist In the world. Figure1:mexican chemical their extensive use as propellants for refrigeration and engineer Mario molina • After the nobel Price, Mario Molina became part of the aerosol spray cans. mexican science academy on 1996.

His path towards • Because they are chemically inert and have low • In 2011,he proceeded to President´s Council of Advisors solubility in water, these chlorofluoromethanes have of Science and Technology. the Nobel Prize very long atmospheric lifetimes and can be detected throughout the troposphere in large amounts. • Thanks to his studies on the breakdown of the ozone • Mario Molina graduated from the National • The most important layer, the Montreal Protocol is signed, which is the first Autonomous University of Mexico, in 1965 with a discharge of CFCs is the international treaty signed by most nations to confront bachelors in chemical engineering. photolytic dissociation in global warming. the stratosphere by • He began his Postgraduate Degree at the ultraviolet radiation. University of Freiburg, Germany in polymerization • After photolysis, References kinetics, from which he graduated in 1967. chlorofluoromethanes 1. Mario J. Molina - Biographical - NobelPrize.Org.” n.d. Nobelprize.Org. Accessed October 14, release chlorine atoms, 2020. https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1995/molina/biographical/. 2. Contreras Nuño, Jesús Guillermo, Daniel Jiménez Álvarez, and Juan Antonio Pichardo Corpus. which initiate an 2015. “Mario Molina y la saga del ozono: ejemplo de vinculación ciencia-sociedad.” Andamios • In 1973 he began his research on atmospheric Revista de Investigación Social 12, no. 29: 15–32. chemistry together with his colleague and recipient extensive catalytic chain 3. “Mario J. Molina, Ph.D.” 2016. Achievement.Org. October 13, 2016. reaction. leading to the https://achievement.org/achiever/mario-j-molina-ph-d/. of the Nobel Prize, Professor Frank Sherwood Figure 3: ozone layer 4. Molina, M., Rowland, F. Stratospheric sink for chlorofluoromethanes: chlorine atom-catalysed net destruction of O3 in destruction of ozone. Nature 249, 810–812 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/249810a0 Rowland 5. “Semblanza.” n.d. Centromariomolina.Org. Accessed October 14, 2020. the stratosphere. http://centromariomolina.org/mario-molina/biografia/.