Difference between revisions of "Ozone" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
(editing)
Line 73: Line 73:
 
|}
 
|}
 
<div class="notice dablink">''For other uses, see [[{{PAGENAME}} (disambiguation)]].''</div>
 
<div class="notice dablink">''For other uses, see [[{{PAGENAME}} (disambiguation)]].''</div>
'''Ozone''' (O<sub>3</sub>) is a triatomic [[molecule]] consisting of three oxygen [[atom]]s. It is an [[allotrope]] of [[oxygen]] (O<sub>2</sub>), a much more stable diatomic molecule.
+
'''Ozone''' is a minor constituent of the Earth's atmosphere, but its effects are highly significant. It is chemically very reactive and is involved in reactions that drive many of the chemical changes that occur in the atmosphere by day and by night.
 +
 
 +
The molecular formula of ozone is O<sub>3</sub>, which means that each [[molecule]] of ozone consists of three oxygen [[atom]]s. It is an [[allotrope]] of [[oxygen]] (O<sub>2</sub>), a much more stable diatomic molecule.
  
 
Ozone is present in low concentrations throughout the [[Earth's atmosphere]]: ground level ozone is an air [[pollutant]] with harmful effects on [[lung]] function and in the upper atmosphere it prevents damaging [[ultraviolet]] light from reaching the Earth's surface.
 
Ozone is present in low concentrations throughout the [[Earth's atmosphere]]: ground level ozone is an air [[pollutant]] with harmful effects on [[lung]] function and in the upper atmosphere it prevents damaging [[ultraviolet]] light from reaching the Earth's surface.
Line 154: Line 156:
  
 
== Tropospheric ozone ==
 
== Tropospheric ozone ==
Ozone is a minor constituent of the [[Earth's atmosphere|troposphere]], but it has significant effects. It is involved in chemical reactions that drive many of the chemical changes that occur in the atmosphere by day and by night. At abnormally high concentrations brought about by man's activities (largely the combustion of fossil fuel), it is a [[pollutant]], a constituent of [[smog]]. Many highly energetic reactions produce it, ranging from combustion to photocopying. Often laser printers will have a smell of ozone, which in high concentrations is toxic. Ozone is a powerful [[oxidizing agent]] readily reacting with other chemical compounds to make many possibly [[toxic]] oxides.  
+
Ozone is produced in the troposphere (lower atmosphere) by many highly energetic processes, ranging from lightning strikes and combustion to photocopying and laser printing. Human activities, particularly the combustion of [[fossil fuel]]s, have raised the concentration of ozone. At abnormally high concentrations, ozone is a [[pollutant]] and a constituent of [[smog]]. Ozone is a powerful [[oxidizing agent]] readily reacting with other chemical compounds to make many possibly [[toxic]] oxides.
 
 
The [[troposphere]] extends to between 10 and 18 kilometers above the surface of the [[Earth]] and consists of many layers.
 
 
 
  
Ozone is not directly emitted by car engines or by industrial operations themselves. These sources emit [[Volatile organic compound|hydrocarbon]]s and [[nitrogen oxide]]s that react with sunlight to form ozone directly where the the pollutants are being emitted and in the atmosphere's boundary layer (1 to 3 km altitude). The mix of hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and ozone are the major components of smog that frequently occurs in urban and suburban areas. Recent satellite maps of [[nitrogen dioxide]] (NO<sub>2</sub>) clearly show the worldwide distribution of polluted regions associated with emissions from automobiles, factories, and power plants that burn fossil fuels.
+
Ozone is not directly emitted by car engines or by industrial operations themselves. These sources emit [[Volatile organic compound|hydrocarbon]]s and [[nitrogen oxide]]s that react in the presence of sunlight to form ozone. Hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and ozone are the major components of smog that frequently occurs in urban and suburban areas. Recent satellite maps of [[nitrogen dioxide]] (NO<sub>2</sub>) clearly show the worldwide distribution of polluted regions associated with emissions from automobiles, factories, and power plants that burn fossil fuels.
  
 
A great deal of evidence shows that ozone at the Earth's surface can harm lung function and irritate the respiratory system. Ozone has been found to convert [[cholesterol]] in the bloodstream to plaque (which causes hardening and narrowing of arteries). This cholesterol product has also been implicated in [[Alzheimer's disease]], suggesting a link between the inflammatory response associated with head injury and Alzheimer's. Air quality guidelines such as those from the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) are based on detailed studies of what levels can cause measurable health effects.
 
A great deal of evidence shows that ozone at the Earth's surface can harm lung function and irritate the respiratory system. Ozone has been found to convert [[cholesterol]] in the bloodstream to plaque (which causes hardening and narrowing of arteries). This cholesterol product has also been implicated in [[Alzheimer's disease]], suggesting a link between the inflammatory response associated with head injury and Alzheimer's. Air quality guidelines such as those from the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) are based on detailed studies of what levels can cause measurable health effects.
Line 174: Line 173:
  
 
Copied fr WP:
 
Copied fr WP:
Ozone is a key constituent of the [[Earth's atmosphere|troposphere]]. Photochemical and chemical reactions involving it drive many of the chemical processes that occur in the atmosphere by day and by night. At abnormally high concentrations brought about by man's activities (largely the combustion of fossil fuel), it is a [[pollutant]], a constituent of [[smog]]. Many highly energetic reactions produce it, ranging from combustion to photocopying. Often laser printers will have a smell of ozone, which in high concentrations is toxic. Ozone is a powerful [[oxidizing agent]] readily reacting with other chemical compounds to make many possibly [[toxic]] oxides.
 
  
The [[troposphere]] extends to between 10 and 18 kilometers above the surface of the [[Earth]] and consists of many layers. Ozone is more concentrated above the mixing layer, or ground layer. Ground-level ozone, though less concentrated than ozone aloft, is more of a problem because of its [[Tropospheric Ozone#Health effects|health effects]].
 
 
Tropospheric ozone is a [[greenhouse gas]] and initiates the chemical removal of [[methane]] and other [[hydrocarbon]]s from the atmosphere thus its concentration affects how long these compounds remain in the air.
 
  
 
[[Satellite]]s can measure tropospheric ozone.[http://tes.jpl.nasa.gov/][http://jwocky.gsfc.nasa.gov/] Measurements specifically of ground-level ozone require in-situ monitoring technology.
 
[[Satellite]]s can measure tropospheric ozone.[http://tes.jpl.nasa.gov/][http://jwocky.gsfc.nasa.gov/] Measurements specifically of ground-level ozone require in-situ monitoring technology.
Line 210: Line 205:
  
 
=== Health effects ===
 
=== Health effects ===
 +
 +
Ground-level ozone, though less concentrated than ozone aloft, is more of a problem because of its [[Tropospheric Ozone#Health effects|health effects]].
 +
 +
 
Ozone is known to have the following health effects at concentrations common in urban air:
 
Ozone is known to have the following health effects at concentrations common in urban air:
 
* Irritation of the [[respiratory system]], causing coughing, throat irritation, and/or an uncomfortable sensation in the chest.
 
* Irritation of the [[respiratory system]], causing coughing, throat irritation, and/or an uncomfortable sensation in the chest.

Revision as of 01:52, 11 May 2006

Ozone
Ozone-1,3-dipole.pngOzone-3D-space-filling.png   
General
Systematic name Trioxygen
Molecular formula O3
Molar mass 47.998 g/mol
Appearance bluish colored gas
CAS number [10028-15-6]
Properties
Density and phase 2.144 g/l (0 °C), gas
Solubility in water 0.105 g/100 ml (0 °C)
Melting point 75.95 K, −197.2 °C
Boiling point 161.25 K, −111.9 °C
Thermodynamic data
Standard enthalpy
of formation
ΔfH°solid
+142.3 kJ/mol
Standard molar entropy
S°solid
237.7 J.K−1.mol−1
Hazards
EU classification not listed
NFPA 704
Supplementary data page
Structure and
properties
n, εr, etc.
Thermodynamic
data
Phase behaviour
Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data UV, IR, NMR, MS
Regulatory data Flash point,
RTECS number, etc.
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state (at 25°C, 100 kPa pressure)
Infobox disclaimer and references

Ozone is a minor constituent of the Earth's atmosphere, but its effects are highly significant. It is chemically very reactive and is involved in reactions that drive many of the chemical changes that occur in the atmosphere by day and by night.

The molecular formula of ozone is O3, which means that each molecule of ozone consists of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen (O2), a much more stable diatomic molecule.

Ozone is present in low concentrations throughout the Earth's atmosphere: ground level ozone is an air pollutant with harmful effects on lung function and in the upper atmosphere it prevents damaging ultraviolet light from reaching the Earth's surface.

Discovery and notable characteristics

Ozone was discovered in 1840 by Christian Friedrich Schönbein, who named it after the Greek word for smell (ozein), associating it with the peculiar odor in the air after lightning storms. [1]. The odor from a lightning strike, however, is from electrons freed during rapid chemical changes, not from the ozone itself [2].

At standard temperature and pressure (0°C and 100 kilopascals pressure), ozone is a pale blue gas. It forms a dark blue liquid below −112°C and a dark blue solid below −193°C. It is a powerful oxidizing agent (see Reactions below). It is also unstable, decaying to ordinary oxygen through the reaction:

2 O3 → 3 O2

This reaction proceeds more rapidly with increasing temperature and decreasing pressure.

Ozone (along with hypochlorite ions) is naturally produced by white blood cells and the roots of marigolds as a means of destroying foreign bodies. When ozone breaks down, it gives rise to oxygen free radicals, which are highly reactive and damage or destroy most organic molecules.

In addition, ozone is formed from O2 by electrical discharges such as lightning, and by the action of high energy electromagnetic radiation.

Some types of electrical equipment generate significant levels of ozone. This is especially true of devices using high voltages, such as television sets, laser printers, and photocopiers. Electric motors using brushes can generate ozone from repeated sparking inside the unit. Large motors, such as those used by elevators or hydraulic pumps, will generate more ozone than smaller motors.


Ozone layer

Total ozone concentration in June 2000 as measured by EP-TOMS satellite instrument.

The ozone layer is the region of the Earth's stratosphere that contains relatively high concentrations of ozone. These concentrations are greatest at altitudes between about 15 and 40 km, where they range from about 2 to 8 parts per million (ppm)—much higher than the ozone concentrations in the troposphere (lower atmosphere), but still small compared to the atmosphere's main components. About 90% of the ozone in our atmosphere is contained in the stratosphere, and about 10% is contained in the troposphere.

The "thickness" of the ozone layer—that is, the total amount of ozone in a column overhead—varies by a large factor worldwide, generally being smaller near the equator and larger as one moves toward the poles. It also varies with season, being in general thicker during the spring and thinner during the autumn. The reasons for this latitude and seasonal dependence are complicated, involving atmospheric circulation patterns as well as solar intensity.

The ozone layer was discovered in 1913 by French physicists Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson. Its properties were explored in detail by British meteorologist G. M. B. Dobson, who developed a simple spectrophotometer that could be used to measure stratospheric ozone from the ground. Between 1928 and 1958, Dobson established a worldwide network of ozone monitoring stations that continues to operate today.

The standard way to express total ozone amounts in the atmosphere is in terms of the "Dobson unit," which measures the total amount of ozone in a column overhead. When used in industry, ozone is measured in ppm and percent by mass or weight.

Origin of ozone layer

The ozone-oxygen cycle in the ozone layer.

The photochemical mechanisms that give rise to the ozone layer were worked out by the British physicist Sidney Chapman in 1930. When ultraviolet (UV) light strikes dioxygen molecules (O2), they split up into individual oxygen atoms (atomic oxygen). The atomic oxygen then combines with unbroken O2 to create ozone, O3. The ozone molecule is also unstable (although relatively long-lived in the stratosphere), and when UV light hits ozone, it splits into a molecule of O2 and an atom of oxygen. This repeated process, called the ozone-oxygen cycle, creates an ozone layer in the stratosphere.

Ultraviolet light and ozone

Levels of ozone at various altitudes and blocking of ultraviolet radiation.

The ozone layer filters out the shorter wavelengths (less than 320 nm) of ultraviolet (UV) light (270 to 400 nm) from the Sun that would be harmful to most forms of life in large doses. These same wavelengths are also responsible for the production of vitamin D, which is essential for human health.

Although the concentration of ozone in the ozone layer is very small, it is vitally important to life because it absorbs biologically harmful UV radiation emitted from the Sun. UV radiation is divided into three categories, based on its wavelength: UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. UV-C, which would be very harmful to humans, is entirely screened out by ozone at around 35 km altitude.

UV-B radiation is the main cause of sunburn; excessive exposure can also cause genetic damage, resulting in problems such as skin cancer. The ozone layer is very effective at screening out UV-B; for radiation with a wavelength of 290 nm, the intensity at Earth's surface is 350 million times weaker than at the top of the atmosphere. Nevertheless, some UV-B reaches the surface. Most UV-A reaches the surface; this radiation is significantly less harmful, although it can potentially cause genetic damage.

Depletion of the ozone layer would allow more of the UV radiation, and particularly the more harmful wavelengths, to reach the surface, causing increased genetic damage to living things.

DNA sensitivity to UV

There is much greater probability of DNA damage by UV radiation at various wavelengths. Fortunately, where DNA is easily damaged, such as by wavelengths shorter than 290 nm, ozone strongly absorbs UV. At the longer wavelengths where ozone absorbs weakly, DNA damage is less likely. If there was a 10% decrease in ozone, the amount of DNA damaging UV increases, in this case, by about 22%. Considering that DNA damage can lead to maladies like skin cancer, it is clear that this absorption of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation by ozone is critical for our well being.

Distribution of ozone in the stratosphere

Brewer-Dobson circulation in the ozone layer.

Most of the stratospheric ozone is created over the tropics, but then stratospheric wind patterns, known as the "Brewer-Dobson circulation," transport the ozone poleward and downward to the lower stratosphere of the high latitudes. Consequently, most of the ozone is found in the mid-to-high latitudes of the northern and southern hemispheres; the highest levels are found in the spring, not summer, and the lowest in the fall, not winter. Moreover, the ozone layer is higher in altitude in the tropics, and lower in altitude beyond the tropics, especially in the polar regions.

Over the continental United States (25°N to 49°N), stratospheric ozone amounts are highest in the spring (April and May). These amounts fall over the course of the summer to their lowest levels in October, then rise again over the course of the winter. Again, wind transport of ozone is principally responsible for the seasonal changes of these higher latitude ozone patterns.

The total column amount of ozone generally increases as we move from the tropics to higher latitudes in both hemispheres. However, the overall column amounts are greater in the northern hemisphere high latitudes than in the southern hemisphere high latitudes. The highest amounts of column ozone anywhere in the world are found over the Arctic region during the northern spring period of March and April. The amounts then decrease over the course of the northern summer. Meanwhile, the lowest amounts of column ozone anywhere in the world are found over the Antarctic in the southern spring period of September and October (see "ozone hole" mentioned below).

Ozone depletion

Image of the largest Antarctic ozone hole observed, recorded in September 2000. Data taken by the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) instrument aboard NASA's Earth Probe satellite.

The term ozone depletion is used to describe two distinct but related observations: (a) a slow, steady decline, of about 3% per decade, in the total amount of ozone in the Earth's stratosphere during the past 20 years; and (b) a much larger, but seasonal, decrease in stratospheric ozone over the Earth's polar regions during the same period. The latter phenomenon is commonly referred to as the "ozone hole."

The detailed mechanism of formation of polar ozone holes is different from that for the mid-latitude thinning, but both trends are believed to be caused by destruction of ozone by a number of free radical catalysts—particularly hydroxyl (OH), nitric oxide (NO), atomic chlorine (Cl), and atomic bromine (Br).

At present, most of the OH and NO in the stratosphere are of natural origin, while the concentrations of Cl and Br atoms (classified as "halogen" atoms) have risen through human activity. It appears that the halogen atoms in the stratosphere are formed mainly by the UV-catalyzed breakdown of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) compounds, commonly called Freons, and bromofluorocarbon compounds, known as Halons, which are transported into the stratosphere after being emitted at the surface.

The free Cl or Br atoms can catalyze the conversion of ozone (O3) to oxygen molecules (O2). The chemical reactions catalyzed by Cl atoms can be written as follows:

Cl + O3 —> ClO + O2
ClO + O —> Cl + O2

The overall conversion reaction is:

O3 + O —> O2 + O2

For this mechanism to operate, there must be a source of O atoms, and these are produced by the breakup of O3 molecules by UV light.

A single chlorine atom could keep on destroying ozone for up to two years (the time scale for transport back down to the troposphere), were it not for reactions that remove Cl from this cycle by forming compounds such as hydrochloric acid. On a per-atom basis, bromine is even more efficient than chlorine at destroying ozone, but there is much less bromine in the atmosphere.

Given that the ozone layer prevents harmful UVC and UVB wavelengths of light from passing through the Earth's atmosphere, observed and projected decreases in ozone have generated worldwide concern. This concern has led to adoption of the Montreal Protocol, which bans the production of CFCs and halons, as well as related ozone-depleting chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (also known as methyl chloroform). It is suspected that increased UV exposure due to ozone depletion may have a variety of biological consequences, including increases in skin cancer, damage to plants, and reduction of plankton populations in the oceans.

Tropospheric ozone

Ozone is produced in the troposphere (lower atmosphere) by many highly energetic processes, ranging from lightning strikes and combustion to photocopying and laser printing. Human activities, particularly the combustion of fossil fuels, have raised the concentration of ozone. At abnormally high concentrations, ozone is a pollutant and a constituent of smog. Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent readily reacting with other chemical compounds to make many possibly toxic oxides.

Ozone is not directly emitted by car engines or by industrial operations themselves. These sources emit hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides that react in the presence of sunlight to form ozone. Hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and ozone are the major components of smog that frequently occurs in urban and suburban areas. Recent satellite maps of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) clearly show the worldwide distribution of polluted regions associated with emissions from automobiles, factories, and power plants that burn fossil fuels.

A great deal of evidence shows that ozone at the Earth's surface can harm lung function and irritate the respiratory system. Ozone has been found to convert cholesterol in the bloodstream to plaque (which causes hardening and narrowing of arteries). This cholesterol product has also been implicated in Alzheimer's disease, suggesting a link between the inflammatory response associated with head injury and Alzheimer's. Air quality guidelines such as those from the World Health Organization (WHO) are based on detailed studies of what levels can cause measurable health effects.

There is also evidence of significant reduction in agricultural yields due to increased ground-level ozone which interferes with photosynthesis and stunts overall growth of some plant species [3][4].

Although ozone was present at ground level before the industrial revolution, peak concentrations are currently far higher than pre-industrial levels [5]. In addition, background concentrations well away from sources of pollution are substantially higher [6].

Ozone reacts directly with some hydrocarbons (of the type known as alkenes) to produce compounds known as aldehydes and ketones. This process, called ozonolysis, helps lower the amounts of hydrocarbons and ozone in the air, but the products of the ozonolysis are themselves key components of smog.

Ozone photolysis by UV light leads to production of the hydroxyl radical (OH), which plays a part in the removal of hydrocarbons from the air, but is again a step in the creation of components of smog such as peroxyacyl nitrates, which are powerful eye irritants. Ultimately, ozone is one component of smog that is harmful in itself and contributes to both the production and ultimate removal of other air pollutants.

77777777777

Copied fr WP:


Satellites can measure tropospheric ozone.[7][8] Measurements specifically of ground-level ozone require in-situ monitoring technology.

Formation

Ozone in the troposphere is derived from different sources. About 10% comes from the stratosphere, while the remainder is created in situ in smaller amounts through different mechanisms.


The majority of tropospheric ozone formation occurs when nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as xylene, react in the atmosphere in the presence of sunlight. NOx and VOCs are called ozone precursors. Motor vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, and chemical solvents are the major antropogenic sources of these chemicals. Although these precursors often originate in urban areas, winds can carry NOx hundreds of kilometers, causing ozone formation to occur in less populated regions as well. Methane, a VOC whose atmosperic concentration has increased tremendously the last century, contributes to ozone formation but on a global scale rather than in local or regional photochemical smog episodes. In situations where this exclusion of methane from the VOC group of substances is not obvious, the term Non-Methane VOC (NMVOC) is often used.

The chemical reactions involved in tropospheric ozone formation are a series of complex cycles in which carbon monoxide and VOCs are oxidised to water vapour and carbon dioxide. The reactions involved in this process are illustrated here with CO but similar reactions occur for VOC as well. Oxidation begins with the reaction of CO with the hydroxyl radical. The hydrogen atom formed by this reacts rapidly with oxygen to give a peroxy radical HO2

OH + CO → H + CO2
H + O2 → HO2

Peroxy radicals then go on to react with NO to give NO2 which is photolysed to give atomic oxygen and through reaction with oxygen a molecule of ozone:

HO2 + NO → OH + NO2
NO2 + hν → NO + O
O + O2 → O3

The net effect of these reactions is:

CO + 2O2 → CO2 + O3

This cycle involving HOx and NOx is terminated by the reaction of OH with NO2 to form nitric acid or by the reaction of peroxy radicals with each other to form peroxides. The chemistry involving VOCs is much more complex but the same reaction of peroxy radicals oxidizing NO to NO2 is the critical step leading to ozone formation.

Downward transport of stratospheric ozone is also an important source of tropospheric ozone.

Health effects

Ground-level ozone, though less concentrated than ozone aloft, is more of a problem because of its health effects.


Ozone is known to have the following health effects at concentrations common in urban air:

  • Irritation of the respiratory system, causing coughing, throat irritation, and/or an uncomfortable sensation in the chest.
  • Reduced lung function, making it more difficult to breathe deeply and vigorously. Breathing may become more rapid and more shallow than normal, and a person's ability to engage in vigorous activities may be limited.
  • Aggravation of asthma. When ozone levels are high, more people with asthma have attacks that require a doctor's attention or use of medication. One reason this happens is that ozone makes people more sensitive to allergens, which in turn trigger asthma attacks.
  • Increased susceptibility to respiratory infections.
  • Inflammation and damage the lining of the lungs. Within a few days, the damaged cells are shed and replaced much like the skin peels after a sunburn. Animal studies suggest that if this type of inflammation happens repeatedly over a long time period (months, years, a lifetime), lung tissue may become permanently scarred, resulting in permanent loss of lung function and a lower quality of life.

A statistical study of 95 large urban communities in the United States found significant association between ozone levels and premature death. The study estimated that a one-third reduction in urban ozone concentrations would save roughly 4000 lives per year (Bell et. al, 2004).

Industrial and laboratory production

Industrially, ozone is produced by subjecting oxygen in the air to either (a) short-wavelength UV radiation using a mercury vapor lamp, or (b) a high-voltage electric field in a process called cold discharge or corona discharge. The cold discharge apparatus consists of two metal plates separated by an air gap and an electrical insulator (such as borosilicate glass or mica). When a high-voltage alternating current is applied to the plates, ozone is formed in the air gap, as O2 molecules dissociate and recombine into O3.

In the laboratory, ozone can be produced by electrolysis (electrical breakup) of acidified water. A pencil graphite rod cathode and a platinum wire anode are dipped in a solution containing sulfuric acid (at a concentration of 3 Molar), and the electrodes are connected to a 9-volt battery to generate an electrical current. In the overall reaction, three equivalents of water are converted into one equivalent of ozone and one equivalent of hydrogen. A competing reaction is the formation of oxygen. (See Jorge G. Ibanez et al., 2005, in References below).

Reactions

Ozone is a reagent for many reactions in the laboratory and industry. Some of these are listed here.

Ozone will oxidize metals (except gold, platinum, and iridium) to oxides of the metals in their highest oxidation state. For example, cobalt ions are oxidized from Co2+ to Co3+ as follows:

2 Co2+ + 2 H+ + O3 → 2 Co3+ + H2O + O2

Ozone oxidizes oxides to peroxides, or to oxides of higher oxidation number. For example, sulfur dioxide (SO2) is converted to sulfur trioxide (SO3), and nitric oxide (NO) is converted to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), as follows:

SO2 + O3 → SO3 + O2
NO + O3 → NO2 + O2

The above reaction is accompanied by chemiluminescence. The NO2 can be further oxidized to NO3:

NO2 + O3 → NO3 + O2

The NO3 formed can react with NO2 to form N2O5:

NO2 + NO3 → N2O5

Ozone reacts with carbon to form carbon dioxide, even at room temperature:

C + 2 O3 → CO2 + 2 O2

Ozone does not react with ammonium salts but it reacts with ammonia (NH3) to form ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3):

NH3 + 4 O3 → NH4NO3 + 4 O3 + H20

Ozone reacts with sulfides to make sulfates. For instance, lead sulfide (PbS) is converted to lead sulfate (PbSO4):

PbS + 4 O3 → PbSO4 + 4 O2

Ozone can react with sulfur (S) or sulfur dioxide (SO2) to produce sulfuric acid (H2SO4):

S + H2O + O3 → H2SO4
3 SO2 + 3 H2O + O3 → 3 H2SO4

All three atoms of ozone may also react, as in the reaction with tin(II) chloride (SnCl2) and hydrochloric acid (HCl):

3 SnCl2 + 6 HCl + O3 → 3 SnCl4 + 3 H2O

Ozone can be used for combustion reactions, and the burning of gases in ozone produces higher temperatures than burning them in dioxygen (O2). Following is a reaction for the combustion of carbon subnitride (C4N2):

3 C4N2 + 4 O3 → 12 CO + 3 N2

Ozone can react at cryogenic (very low) temperatures. At 77 K (-196°C), atomic hydrogen reacts with liquid ozone to form a hydrogen superoxide radical (HO2), which converts to the dimer H2O4 (M. Horvath et al., 1985, pp. 44-49, referenced below):

H + O3 → HO2 + O
2 HO2 → H2O4

It is also possible to form compounds called ozonides, which contain the ozonide anion (O3-). These compounds are explosive and must be stored at cryogenic temperatures. Ozonides for all the alkali metals are known. KO3, RbO3, and CsO3 can be prepared from their respective superoxides. For example, KO3 can be formed from KO2.

KO2 + O3 → KO3 + O2

NaO3 and LiO3 must be prepared by action of CsO3 in liquid ammonia (NH3) on an ion exchange resin containing Na+ or Li+ ions (Housecroft & Sharpe, 2005, p. 265, referenced below):

CsO3 + Na+ → Cs+ + NaO3

Ozone can be used to remove manganese (Mn2+) ions from water, by forming a precipitate of MnO(OH)2, which can be filtered:

2 Mn2+ + 2 O3 + 4 H2O → 2 MnO(OH)2 (s) + 2 O2 + 4 H+

Ozone will also turn cyanides (CN-) to the 1,000-times less toxic cyanates (CNO-):

CN- + O3 → CNO- + O2

Finally, ozone will completely decompose urea ((NH2)2CO) (M. Horvath et al., 1985, pp. 259, 269-270, referenced below):

(NH2)2CO + O3 → N2 + CO2 + 2 H2O

Uses of ozone

Municipal water treatment

Ozone can be used for bleaching materials and killing bacteria. Many municipal drinking water systems kill bacteria with ozone instead of the more common chlorine. Unlike chlorine, ozone does not form organochlorine compounds (which can be harmful), and ozone does not remain in the water after treatment. Some systems introduce a small amount of chlorine to prevent bacterial growth in the pipes, or may use chlorine intermittently, based on the results of periodic testing. Ozone is also popularly used in spas or hot tubs instead of chlorine or bromine to keep the water free of bacteria.

In places where electrical power is abundant, ozone is a cost-effective method of treating water, as it is produced on demand and does not require transportation and storage of hazardous chemicals. Once it has decayed, it leaves no taste or odor in drinking water.

Industrial uses

Industrially, ozone or ozonated water is used for a variety purposes, such as:

  • to disinfect water before it is bottled;
  • to kill bacteria on food-contact surfaces;
  • to scrub yeast and mold spores from the air in food-processing plants;
  • to wash fresh fruits and vegetables to kill yeast, mold, and bacteria;
  • to chemically attack contaminants in water (iron, arsenic, hydrogen sulfide, nitrites, and complex organics lumped together as "color");
  • to provide an aid to flocculation (a process of agglomeration of molecules, which aids in filtration—a process by which iron and arsenic are removed);
  • to clean and bleach fabrics (the latter process is patented);
  • to assist in processing plastics to allow the adhesion of inks; and
  • to age rubber samples when determining the useful life of a batch of rubber.

Medical uses

Ozone has a number of uses in the medical arena. For instance, many hospitals around the world use large ozone generators to decontaminate operating rooms between surgeries. The rooms are cleaned, then sealed airtight and filled with ozone, which effectively kills or neutralizes all remaining bacteria.

Ozone can be used to affect the body's antioxidant-prooxidant balance, because the body usually reacts to its presence by producing antioxidant enzymes. Ozone therapy has blossomed into a thriving field of alternative medicine, and there are a host of claimed applications above and beyond what has actually been verified by studies.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the use of ozone therapy on humans. Nonetheless, at least 12 states (AK, AZ, CO, GA, MN, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, SC and WA) have passed legislation to ensure that alternative therapies are available to consumers. Physicians in those states can legally use ozone as an alternative treatment in their practice, without fear of prosecution. In addition, medical ozone therapy is recognized in Bulgaria, Cuba, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Romania, and Russia.

At least one death has been attributed to the application of ozone through insufflation in the United States. Nonetheless, "air cleaners" that produce "activated oxygen" (that is, ozone) are often sold in this country.

See also

Further reading

  • Seinfeld, John H.; Pandis, Spyros N (1998). Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics - From Air Pollution to Climate Change. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-17816-0
  • Greenwood, N. N.; & Earnshaw, A. 1997. Chemistry of the Elements (2nd Edn.). Oxford, UK: Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 0-7506-3365-4.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

Jorge G. Ibanez, Rodrigo Mayen-Mondragon, and M. T. Moran-Moran: "Laboratory Experiments on the Electrochemical Remediation of the Environment. Part 7: Microscale Production of Ozone," J. Chem. Ed., October 2005, Vol. 82 No. 10 p. 1546 Abstract.

M. Horvath, L. Bilitzky, & J. Huttner, 1985. "Ozone."

Housecroft & Sharpe, 2005. "Inorganic Chemistry."

Michelle L. Bell, Aidan McDermott, Scott L. Zeger, Jonathan M. Samet, Francesca Dominici (2004). "Ozone and Short-term Mortality in 95 US Urban Communities, 1987-2000". Journal of the American Medical Association. 292, 2372-2378.

John H. Seinfeld and Spyros N. Pandis. (1998). Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics - From Air Pollution to Climate Change. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-17816-0

Richard P. Wayne (2000). Chemistry of Atmospheres (3rd Ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-850375-X

External links

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.