Ozone Layer

The layer of ozone can be found in the upper stratosphere, where it shields the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. It is composed of oxygen and nitrogen. Humans can develop skin cancer as a result of these radiations. ozone is formed when ultraviolet rays split the hydrogen bond in an oxygen molecule and combine with free oxygen atoms in the surrounding air to form oxygen monoxide. This salient layer is located 12-15 miles beyond the earth’s surface, at a depth of 12-15 miles.

The stratosphere’s ozone layer

When dry oxygen is passed through a salient electric current, it transforms intothis allotropic form of the element oxygen. The dissociation of part of the oxygen molecules causes atomic oxygen to become associated with the oxygen molecule, resulting in 5 percent to 10 percent of the allotropic form of oxygen being produced. The product that is produced is referred to as ozonized oxygen.

Ozone is a reactive gas that decomposes into molecular oxygen when exposed to sunlight. An equilibrium between the formation and decomposition of ozone is maintained in the absence of external influences. It has been discovered that the presence of CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) compounds is contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer’s protective properties.

When chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are released into the atmosphere, they combine with other atmospheric gases and ascend to the stratosphere. In the presence of ultraviolet rays, they are broken down into chlorine radicals, which are toxic. When this chlorine radical reacts with ozone, it produces chlorine monoxide and an oxygen molecule, which are both toxic.

In the reaction Cl (g) + O3 (g) → ClO (g) + O2 (g)

The ozone is depleted as a result of this reaction. CFC compounds are agents that cause the release of chlorine radicals into the atmosphere, resulting in the depletion of the ozone layer in the atmosphere.

Characteristics of Ozone

The following are the characteristics of ozone:- 

1. Ozone is blue in colour and has a strong disturbing smell; however, when used in small quantities, it has a pleasant smell.
2. It has the ability to absorb ultraviolet rays that fall within the ultraviolet region of the atmosphere’s spectrum, which is between 220-290 nm in wavelength.
3. When solidified, this form of oxygen boils at 161.2 degrees Celsius and forms violet-blue crystals. It melts when the temperature reaches 80.6 degrees Celsius.
4. The presence of heat accelerates the decomposition of ozone, resulting in the formation of nascent oxygen and a molecule of oxygen. Because ozone is an unstable compound under normal conditions, this allotrope is a powerful oxidising agent.

The significance of the ozone layer

Even though ozone is harmful at ground level, the ozone layer high in the atmosphere plays a critical role in the protection of all living organisms, including humans. The sun emits ultraviolet radiations, which have a harmful effect on all living things on the planet. This layer absorbs the radiation and prevents it from reaching the earth’s surface’s outermost layer (the atmosphere). The ozone layer is found in the stratosphere, which is the uppermost layer of the earth’s atmosphere. The layers of the atmosphere that occupy the lower part of the atmosphere are responsible for removing pollutants from the earth’s surface.

Depletion of the ozone layer

The depletion of the ozone layer is primarily caused by the widespread use of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) in industry. The following are examples of ozone-depleting substances:

1. Chrome Molybdenum tri fluorocarbons (CFCs): The production and use of CFCs is a major contributor to the ozone layer’s depletion. They are commonly used as a coolant in refrigerators and air conditioners, as well as in automobiles and other vehicles. It is also used as an industrial solvent, in foam products, and as a sterilisation device in medical facilities.
2. Methyl chloroform is a chemical that is commonly used in industries for chemical processing and other purposes.
3. Carbon tetrachloride is a chemical compound that is typically used as a solvent.

Conclusion

Therefore, we can finally conclude that almost always, the ozone layer has only been associated with the hole in the ozone layer and the environmental damage that has resulted from this hole. The ozone layer’s abundance is what makes the hole so significant, and the science that explains it is far less well known than the hole itself. Schönbein confirmed the existence of ozone in the year 1840, and Jacques-Louis Soret firmly established the chemical formula of ozone as O3 and demonstrated that ozone is an allotropic form of oxygen. The ozone layer, 15 miles above Earth, protects life on Earth by absorbing the hottest ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. When the ozone layer is thinned (depleted), more ultraviolet radiation than usual is measured to reach Earth, raising Earth’s temperature and increasing risk of sunburn and skin cancer.