Ozone Flashcards
What is ozone (O₃)?
Ozone is a highly reactive gas composed of three oxygen atoms, occurring naturally in the Earth’s atmosphere.
What is the appearance of ozone under standard conditions?
Under standard conditions, ozone is a pale blue gas, but in Earth’s atmosphere, it is colorless.
What is the solubility of ozone in water?
Ozone is not readily soluble in water, with solubility dependent on temperature at 1 atm.
What is the odor of ozone?
Ozone has a sharp, pungent smell, similar to chlorine or the fresh scent after a thunderstorm.
Why is ozone considered a strong oxidizing agent?
It readily accepts electrons due to its high electron affinity
Why is ozone thermodynamically unstable?
Ozone tends to decompose into molecular oxygen (O₂) because of its positive Gibbs free energy of formation.
What factors accelerate ozone decomposition?
Heat, light, and catalysts like manganese dioxide (MnO₂) or platinum.
What is the significance of ozone’s light absorption?
Ozone absorbs UV radiation in the 100-290 nm range, protecting biological molecules from mutations.
What are the practical applications of ozone?
It is used for water treatment, medical sterilization, and therapeutic processes.
Why does ozone have limited interaction with water?
Its non-polar nature reduces its solubility in water.
