Question
Give equations for ozone formation.
Answer
Ozone formation involves a series of chemical reactions between oxygen molecules, ozone molecules, and atomic oxygen. Here are the basic equations for ozone formation:
- O2 + photon (UV ray) → 2O
- O + O2 → O3 (ozone)
- O3 + photon (UV ray) → O2 + O
The net reaction for ozone formation is:
3O2 + photon (UV radiation) → 2O3
This reaction shows that three molecules of oxygen (O2) and a photon of UV radiation combine to produce two molecules of ozone (O3).