Ozone is an unstable, dark blue diamagnetic gas. It absorbs strongly the UV radiation, thus protecting the people on the earth from the harmful UV radiation from the sun. The use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) in aerosols and refrigerators, and their subsequent escape into the atmosphere, is blamed for making holes in the ozone layer over the Antarctic, and Arctic.

Ozone acts as a strong oxidising agent in acidic and alkaline medium. For this property ozone is used as a germicide and disinfectant for sterilizing water and improving the atmosphere of crowded places.

Ozone (O₃) is an unstable, dark blue, diamagnetic gas that plays a crucial role in environmental protection and chemical applications.

Role in Atmosphere:

• Ozone absorbs harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, thus preventing dangerous radiation from reaching the Earth’s surface.

• The depletion of ozone is mainly caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used in aerosols and refrigeration systems. When released, these compounds reach the stratosphere, where chlorine radicals from CFCs catalytically destroy ozone molecules, leading to the formation of the so-called “ozone holes” over Antarctica and the Arctic.

Chemical Properties:

• Ozone is a strong oxidizing agent in both acidic and alkaline media.

• Because of its powerful oxidizing nature, ozone finds applications as:

  • A germicide and disinfectant.

  • Used in sterilizing drinking water.

  • Employed for purifying air and improving the atmosphere in crowded or polluted places.