Mario J. Molina Biography

Mario Molina is a renowned chemist who studied the effects of man-made compounds on the atmosphere and pioneered the theory of CFC and ozone depletion. Ever since his childhood, Molina was attracted towards science and his aunt Esther who was a chemist propelled his interest by helping him with his experiments, which he conducted in a make shift laboratory set up in a bathroom of their family house. Falling in line with family’s practice of studying abroad, Mario attended school in Switzerland. The young lad was eager to visit the continent which he viewed as an opportunity to interact with students who had an aptitude for the sciences; but however he was met with disappointment. He then pursued studies which catered to his goal of becoming a physical scientist. To succeed in his endeavour, he went to the United States and enrolled in University of California, which later became central to his research work. In association with F. Sherwood Rowland he studied the chemical reactivity of CFC in the atmosphere and came up with startling conclusions. His findings suggested that the CFC’s were responsible for the corrosion of ozone layer present in the stratosphere. He was even awarded a Nobel Prize for his work in the field of environmental chemistry. To know more about his life and works read on.