Where did ozone come from and its role in nature

Today, perhaps, you will not meet a person whoI would not have heard about the problem of the ozone layer of the planet. A lot of myths, guesses and various hypotheses are replicated by the mass media. But that's what it is and where it came from ozone on Earth, a few remember. Let's try to understand this issue.

A bit of history

The discoverer of ozone is a physicist fromHolland Martin van Marum. In 1785, while passing an electric discharge through a flask with air, he received a gas with a smell. But his chemist from Germany, H.F. Shenbain only in 1840. He called the gas ozone, which in Greek means "smelling." Thus, an analogy was drawn with the odor that he gave off. But where did ozone come from in the atmosphere of the planet, it became known much later.

Two oxygen atoms and one more

Allotropic modification of oxygen, which consists ofthree atoms, in chemistry is called ozone. It can be described as a slightly bluish gas with a pronounced odor under normal conditions. When cooled, it turns first into a liquid of blue color (indigo), and when it enters the solid state it forms crystals of dark blue or almost black color. Molecules of gaseous ozone in nature are very unstable, but as long as they exist, the substance has strong oxidative properties.

Natural Ozone

All known ozone layer of the planet (ozonosphere)Is stratospheric ozone. It is located at an altitude of 12-25 kilometers. It accounts for about 90% of total natural ozone. The remaining 10% is the gas that is below. It is called tropospheric ozone. In addition to the different arrangement in the atmosphere, these two gases have completely different meanings

Where did ozone come from in the ancient atmosphere

Blue gas originated in the atmosphere of the planet ina result of a very complex photochemical reaction. Under the influence of ultraviolet radiation from the sun and cosmic radiation, upon the decomposition of water molecules to diatomic oxygen, a third atom joins and an allotropic ozone atom is formed. This reaction is taking place in the upper layers of the planet's atmosphere today. In total, this gas occupies 0.6 parts per million - this means that the cubic meter of the atmosphere contains 0.6 cm of cubic ozone. That's where ozone came from in the atmosphere of our planet.

Ozone and life on the planet

At an altitude of 25 kilometers this gas is concentratedvery thin layer. But his role for life is very significant. Where did ozone come from on Earth, we already know. It serves as a shield for ultraviolet radiation - pernicious for all living things. It is thanks to the absorption of this ultraviolet, accompanied by the formation of ozone, that humanity is protected from death. The rate of ozone formation is on average equal to the rate of its decay. The importance of ozone for life is appreciated by mankind. And on September 16 the whole world celebrates the day of protection of the ozone layer of the planet.

Destructive gas

In the Russian classification, ozone is referred tosubstances of the highest class of danger. This strong oxidizer is very toxic to the human body. He brings the greatest harm, having a slow but disastrous effect. With prolonged inhalation, the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory tract damage increases dramatically. The ability of ozone to react with cholesterol to form insoluble compounds leads to the development of atherosclerosis.

Surface gas

Where did ozone come from in the Earth's atmosphere, and infeatures surface gas - the question is not simple. And the answer means several. The main thing is that it is still formed as a result of photochemical reactions and exposure to radiation or high energies. As it could in cities it is formed from its predecessors (nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons) under the influence of temperature and solar radiation. And during the summer hot weather, the gas concentration rises with a pronounced daily rhythm. The maximum is reached at noon, but at least in the early morning hours. The increase in ozone concentration is facilitated by downward air currents and high temperatures.

Ozone or oxygen?

If oxygen is the source of life for all living things, thenground-level ozone is its death. Recent studies by biologists have confirmed its disastrous effect on the lungs of our planet - on plants. Under the action of ozone, the pores in the plant leaves shrink, and photosynthetic processes are suppressed. The computer model showed a decrease in plants' consumption of carbon dioxide by 23%. And this is a serious threat to life on the whole planet.

Ozone as a resource

Mankind has long been looking for ways to useall the resources that the Earth can provide. And regardless of where ozone came from in the atmosphere, it was no exception. The strongest oxidant has found application in the sterilization of instruments, in the disinfection of rooms and clothing, in the purification of industrial, sewage and drinking water. In perspective production, they replace chlorine with bleaching of cellulose. Developments are being made in the use of liquid ozone as a propellant. And all the women of the world know about cosmetics enriched with this gas.

Ozone shield and holes in it

For modern civilization, the issue is notwhere ozone came from, and how to preserve the protective layer of this gas and not perish in a stream of ultraviolet radiation and cosmic radiation. And in order to understand how to save it, you need to know the reasons for its destruction. We will focus on the causes of the destruction of the ozone layer associated with anthropogenic activities:

1. The development of cosmonautics and rocket construction leads to a disruption in the structure of the ozone layer, its rupture and thinning.
2. The development of ultra-high aviation contributes to an increase in the atmosphere of nitrogenous combustion products of fuel, which become ozone destroyers in the atmosphere.
3. The next reason is also related to the increase in the concentration of nitrogenous bases in the atmosphere and this application in agricultural activities of nitrogen fertilizers.
4. All known freons, which are widely usedin the manufacture of sprayers, refrigerators and air conditioners. In the upper layers of the atmosphere, they release chlorine atoms through photochemical reactions. And they, in turn, destroy the ozone layer, connecting to the chloride bases.