Which of the following statements about the depiction of ozone layer is correct?

Options

A. The problem of ozone depletion is less serious at poles because `NO_2` solidifies and is not available for consuming CIO* radicals.
B. The problem of ozone depletion is more serious atpoles because ice crystals so the clouds over poles act as catalyst for photochemical reactions involving the decomposition of ozone of Cl* and CTO* radicals
C. Freons, chlorofluorocarbons, are inert Chemically, they do not react with ozone in stratosphere.
D. Oxides of nitrogen also do not react with ozone in stratosphere.

Explanation

To determine which statement about the depiction of the ozone layer is correct, we will analyze each statement one by one.

### Step 1: Analyze the first statement
**Statement 1:** "The problem of ozone depletion is less serious at the poles because NO2 solidifies and it is not available for consuming ClO radicals."

- This statement suggests that the presence of solidified NO2 at the poles reduces ozone depletion. However, this is misleading. The ozone depletion is actually more severe at the poles due to other factors, such as the presence of polar stratospheric clouds.

### Step 2: Analyze the second statement
**Statement 2:** "The problem of ozone depletion is more serious at the poles because ice crystals in the clouds over the poles act as catalysts for the photochemical reactions involving the decomposition of ozone by Cl and ClO radicals."

- This statement is accurate. At the poles, particularly in the Antarctic, polar stratospheric clouds form during the winter. These clouds provide a surface for reactions that release chlorine atoms from chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other compounds, which then deplete ozone.

### Step 3: Analyze the third statement
**Statement 3:** "Freons, Chlorofluorocarbons are inert chemically; they do not react with ozone in the stratosphere."

- This statement is partially true. While CFCs are relatively inert in the troposphere, they are not inert in the stratosphere. Once they reach the stratosphere, they can be broken down by UV radiation, releasing chlorine atoms that do react with ozone.

### Step 4: Analyze the fourth statement
**Statement 4:** "Oxides of nitrogen do not react with ozone in the stratosphere."

- This statement is incorrect. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) can indeed react with ozone and play a role in ozone depletion, although their effect is more complex compared to chlorine compounds.

### Conclusion
After analyzing all the statements, the correct statement regarding the depiction of the ozone layer is:

**Correct Answer:** The problem of ozone depletion is more serious at the poles because ice crystals in the clouds over the poles act as catalysts for the photochemical reactions involving the decomposition of ozone by Cl and ClO radicals. (This corresponds to Statement 2.)