Question

How ozone is formed in the atmosphere? How does it protect living beings from harmful radiations of the sun?

Answer 1

Ozone layer:

• The ozone layer is present in the stratosphere at the height of 20km to 50km from the surface of the Earth.

Formation of ozone:

• Ozone is formed from the exposure of oxygen to the ultraviolet radiation of the sun in the atmosphere.
• The ultraviolet radiation breaks down the oxygen molecule into two oxygen atoms.

${\mathrm{O}}_2\to \mathrm{O}+\mathrm{O}$

$\mathrm{O}+{\mathrm{O}}_2\to {\mathrm{O}}_3$

• A single oxygen atom then combines with an oxygen molecule to create ozone.

Role of ozone layer:

• The ozone layer does not let harmful radiations like ultraviolet rays enter the atmosphere.