Question

What are ozone and ozone layer?

Answer 1

Ozone:

• Ozone (${\mathrm{O}}_3$) is a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms.
• The oxygen we breathe (${\mathrm{O}}_2$) is similar but has only two oxygen atoms.
• High up in a region of the stratosphere, light rays can break down breathable oxygen into two individual oxygen atoms.
• Single oxygen atoms are quite reactive, and ozone is formed when one of these lone oxygen bumps into and combines with ${\mathrm{O}}_2$.

Ozone layer:

• Ozone layer is present in the stratosphere region.
• This layer acts as a protective layer for us.
• The ozone layer in the stratosphere serve as a shield to protect against harmful effects of solar ultraviolet radiations by absorbing these radiations.
• These radiations can cause skin cancer in humans.
• The ultraviolet rays split the oxygen molecule into free oxygen atoms, these free oxygen atoms combine with the oxygen molecule to form ozone.