Introduction:

(i) Ozone is triatomic molecule(O3)

with molecular weight 48.
(ii) Ozone was discovered by Van
Muran by passing air through
electric discharge tube and its
name was purposed by Schonbein.
The ozone layer exists in the stratosphere about
10 -15 km from earth surface.
Ozone is naturally formed in stratosphere from
O2.Oxygen molecule absorbs high energy U.V
radiation from the sun and split into atoms which
the combines with oxygen to form ozone.

U.V
O2(g) O+O
O2 + O O3(g)
 Ozone is prepared in laboratory by passing silent
electric discharge through pure oxygen in an
specially designed apparatus called ozoniser.
silent

3O2 Electric
2O3 , H=+284.5KJ/mol
discharge

This reaction is endothermic in nature. Different

types of ozonizer are used:
1.Siemens ozonizer
2. Brodies ozonizer
It consists of two co-axial glass tube fused together
at one end . The inner side of the inner tube and
outer side of the outer tube are covered with tin
foil. The inner and outer tin coating are connected
to the terminal of the induction coil as shown in
figure.
A slow current of pure and dry oxygen is passed
through the annular space and subjected to silent
electric discharge. The produced gas is called
ozonized oxygen that contains 10-15% ozone.
The yield of ozonized oxygen is increased by
passing pure and dry oxygen at low temperature
and high pressure.
Pure ozone is further obtained from ozonized
oxygen by fractional distillation.
 In Brodies ozonizer , dilute sulphuric acid is taken.
In this, two carbon or platinum electrode are
dipped in H2SO4 which are connected to an
induction coil as shown in figure.
A current of dry oxygen is passed through the
annular space and is subjected to silent electric
discharge so that oxygen is partially converted into
ozone. Thus obtained ozonized oxygen contains
about 15-20% ozone.
Pure ozone is further obtained from ozonized
oxygen by fractional distillation.
(i) As germicides, disinfectant for purification of air
and sterilization of water due to its oxidising
nature.
(ii) For purifying air at the crowded places like
tunnel, railways, cinema halls.
(iii) It is used to remove foul smell in slaughter
houses.
(iv) Used for bleaching delicate articles like silk,
starch, wax, etc.
(v) Used for the preservation of meat, milk in cold
storage.
(vi) Used for locating double bond in organic
compound by ozonolysis.
(vii) Used to prevent the reaching of U.V, solar
radiation to earth by absorbing the radiation.
 (i) If O3 is passed into starch solution containing KI,
it gives deep blue colour as O3 oxidizes KI to I2.

2KI + O3 K2O + I2 + O2
Starch solution + I2 deep blue colour.
(ii)Tailing of Mercury test: If O3 is passed through mercury,
mercury losses its meniscus and leaves black mark on
glass. This is due to the formation of Hg2O which sticks to
the glass surface. This is known as tailing of mercury.
Miniscus can be restored by shaking with water.

2Hg + O3 Hg2O + O2
Black ppt
(iii) It turns benzidine paper into brown.
There is a ozone layer in the stratosphere which
absorbs U.V rays as well as cosmic rays. Therefore
it behaves as protective umbrella for the biotic
factors on the earth. In the absence of this layer,
no life can survive.
However NASA in 1958 discovered a hole in the
ozone layer. It is mainly due to chlorofluoro
carbon(CFCs).
CFCs are also called freons containing chlorine,
fluorine and carbons .e.g CFCl3(freon-11),
CCl2F2(freon-12),CHClF2(freon-22).
They are used by human beings as coolants in
refrigerators, air conditioners and aerosol
propellent, etc.
CFCs are extremely non-toxic, non-reactive and
non-combustible gas but are easily liquefied.
When they come to the earth atmosphere, they
absorb UV light and decompose to give chlorine
atom which destroy ozone molecule in the
stratosphere. Hence they contribute to ozone
layer depletion. UV
CCl2F2(g) CClF2(g) + Cl(g)
Cl(g) + O3(g) ClO(g) + O2(g)
ClO(g) UV Cl(g) + O(g)
O(g) + O3(g) 2O2(g)
Hence one chlorine atom is produced from
decomposition of CFC, hundreds of ozone
molecules are destroyed by chain reaction. Thus
use of CFCs is banned nowadays.
 (i) Nuclear tests.
(ii) Combustion of fossil fuels containing high % of
carbon.
(iii) Various pollutants like CO, NO, CH4
Adverse effects of ozone layer depletion
(i)The harmful UV ray can reach earth surface
directly and causes skin cancer, skin burn, blood
cancer etc.
(ii) UV radiation causes reduction in crops
productivity.
(iii) UV radiation causes eye cancer in cattles.
(iv) UV radiation brings about radical change in
global warming and in climate.
(i) The production and use of CFCs should be
discouraged and their alternatives should be
found out.
(ii) The CFCs released from the air conditioner and
refrigerator should be made to recapture.
(iii) Worldwide awareness programme regarding the
protection of ozone layer should be launched.
Note:The presence of ozone at lower level is
harmful.It acts as pollutants because it oxidizes
the evaporated gasoline, kerosene, disel or
natural gases of automobiles and form aldehyde,
ketone, etc. which irritates nose, throat, eyes. It
causes headache, nausea etc. It damage several
materials like vegetables, grains, rubber, plastics
etc….