first step in this process involves the reaction of N20 with atomic oxygen (Scheme 4, Step 1) to produce NO. The NO. radical then acts as a catalyst to deplete ozone (Scheme 4, Steps 2 and 3). Nitric oxide then abstracts an oxygen atom from an ozone molecule, creating O2 and NO2 (Step 2). The resulting NO2. then reacts with an additional oxygen atom that regenerates NO. and forms another molecule of O2. Because No is regenerated in Step 3, Steps 2 and 3 can occur numerous times, resulting in significant loss of O3 for N2O every molecule of N2O