High above our heads, in the stratosphere, at an altitude of 19-48 km, the planet is surrounded by ozone. It's a type of oxygen. If the oxygen molecule in the air consists of two oxygen atoms joined together - O2, then the molecule, which has three atoms, is indicated by the formula of ozone - O3. It is created by sunlight. When ultraviolet rays from the Sun pass through the atmosphere, they destroy ordinary diatomic oxygen molecules. Each freed atom joins the neighboring O2. This is how the chemical formula of ozone is formed - O3.
What is ozone?
The French physicists Fabry and Buisson discovered this gas for the first time. In 1913, they determined that the sun's rays with a wavelength of 200 to 300 nm are actively absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere. The term "ozone" in Greek means "fragrant", "fragrant". Everyone knows the characteristic smell of this gas that occurs after a thunderstorm. Oxygen is present in the atmosphere in three allotropic forms: O2 - molecular, O - atomic and O3 - the formula of ozone, which is obtained by chemically combining the first two.
Gas properties
The ozone layer is enoughthin, almost invisible. If all the molecules of this gas, which occupy 29 km of space, were combined into a single solid ball, its thickness would take only a third of a centimeter. Some ozone is in the air above the Earth's surface. When car exhaust or smog is released into the air, sunlight reacts with the chemicals in the emissions to form ozone. It is especially felt on a hot day, in the smog-filled air, because it reaches a level that threatens he alth. The formula of the ozone substance is physically unstable, and at a concentration of more than 9% in the air, the gas explodes, so its storage is possible only at low temperatures. When cooled to -111.90C gas turns into liquid.
Ozone excess
A person cannot live in pure oxygen, a small amount of ozone in the atmosphere is useful for him, but its excessive concentration can be deadly. You don't need to breathe it in because this form of oxygen can damage your lungs. Athletes who inhale large amounts of ozone-laden air may complain of heaviness and pain when inhaling. Trees and plants growing along the highway, where the air is saturated with exhaust gases, also suffer from excess ozone. Such a characteristic of this gas above the very surface of the earth. Its natural content (one part of it in tens of millions of other parts of the air) takes part in the oxidative processes that occur at the cellular level in the human body. In the ozone formula, only one oxygen atom acts as an oxidizing agent, and twothe rest are excreted as free oxygen.
Useful properties
When using completely purified indoor air, researchers have noticed an increase in the number of diseases of people in them. The reason turned out to be simple - the lack of ozone in the purified air led to disorders in the body. Regular small doses of gas are also useful for disease prevention.
What is the gas effect? Considering the results of the experiments, scientists came to the conclusion that ozone leads to the destruction of almost all naturally occurring viruses, bacteria, protozoa, as well as mold and yeast. In a few minutes, a small portion (ozone formula O3) in a liter of air neutralizes all substances dangerous to humans. After all, ozonation is a natural process, common to the body. Even in a room, ozone freshens the air, practically removes the risk of infection with airborne diseases, neutralizes smoke, dust and allergens, heavy metal compounds and other air components harmful to humans. Decomposing into water, oxygen and carbon dioxide, these compounds are deprived of toxicity, unpleasant odors are removed. Given the formula of ozone in chemistry, its high oxidizing power is increasingly being used to disinfect air and drinking water.
A layer 20 kilometers above the Earth's surface actually protects our he alth by absorbing ultraviolet rays. It acts as a filter, protecting the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Without a protective layer, life on the planet would be impossible. It has been proven that the flora and fauna appeared on Earth only when a powerful shield formed, protecting it from solar radiation. Ultraviolet helps the skin to get a beautiful tan, but at the same time, it is the main culprit of sunburn and skin cancer.
Ozone hole
In the 1970s, scientists studying the ozone layer above the planet discovered that chemicals used in refrigerators, air conditioners and aerosols could destroy ozone. Gases are released into the air whenever these devices are repaired or when various aerosols are sprayed. According to scientists, the harmful gases eventually reach the ozone molecules. At the same time, solar radiation releases chlorine from chlorine-fluorine hydrocarbons, which destroys the structural formula of ozone, turning it into ordinary oxygen. Thus, the protective layer is destroyed. Another 15 years later, British scientists made a stunning discovery: a huge hole in the ozone layer is located above Antarctica. This hole appears every spring and is about the size of the United States. When the direction of the wind changes due to the change of seasons, the hole refills with ozone molecules. In this case, a certain number of molecules fill the hole, while in other parts the gas layer becomes thinner.
What threatens the reduction of the protective layer?
In the winter of 1992, the ozone layer over Europe and Canada became thinner by 20%. In areas where this layerinsufficiently dense and not able to filter out strong radiation, the number of skin cancer cases increases very noticeably. Over Antarctica itself, scientists have recorded extremely high levels of chlorine monoxide, which is formed as a result of the destruction of ozone by chlorine. The researchers calculated that the loss of only 1% of the protective layer leads to an increase in the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth by 2%, and at the same time, the number of skin cancers increases by 3-6%. Ultraviolet radiation also destroys the body's immunity, making a person more defenseless against infections. Ultraviolet can damage the cells of all plants, from cereals to trees.
Because the ozone layer retains heat, as the ozone layer decreases, the air at this latitude cools, changing the world's winds and weather. It is difficult to predict what effect the depletion of the layer will have on the climate in the future, scientists predict the drying up of natural areas, the loss of part of the vegetation and insufficient food if the problem of destroying this gas is not solved. Even with the cessation of human activity, entailing emissions of gases that destroy the protective layer, it would take at least 100 years for it to return to the previous level.
