Atmospheric
Chemistry: Understanding Ozone
Ozone (26k jpeg)
first discovered in 1839 by German scientist Christian Friedrich
Schonbein
is a pale blue, relatively unstable molecule made up of three
oxygen atoms
is angular, polar, and diamagnetic. Both oxygen bond lengths
(1.28 angstroms) are identical
is formed from molecular oxygen (O2) by ultraviolet
and extreme ultraviolet photolysis followed by recombination of atomic
oxygen (O) with O2
may also be formed by passing an electrical discharge through
gaseous oxygen. It is characterized by a unique odor that is often noticed
during electrical storms and in the vicinity of electrical equipment.
In fact, the term ozone is derived from the Greek word ozein
which means "to smell."
next: Destructive Ozone
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