How was the ozone layer formed? What is it comprised of?

Question

How was the ozone layer formed?  What is it comprised of?

Aaron Anderson · Accepted Answer

The high energy ultraviolet light waves (photons) break up #O_2# into single charged Oxygen atoms which combine to form Ozone.

Atmospheric Oxygen is found in a normal staple diatomic molecule #O_2# High energy particles from the sun can collide with the diatomic molecule causing the Oxygen to split into two single charged Oxygen atoms. The split can leave one Oxygen atom with a charge of -2 This Oxygen ion would have an electron configuration of #1s^22s^22p^6# While the other Oxygen ion would have a charge of +2 . It electron configuration would be # 1s^2 2s^2 2p^4# The ion with a charge of +2 needs more electrons. When the charged ion collides with a diatomic Oxygen molecule the ion will take electrons from the neutral molecule combining with the molecule. This forms a new very unstable molecule of #O_3# or ozone. These chemical reactions are very important to life on earth. If the ozone did not exists absorbing the high energy ultraviolet photons the high energy photons would reach the surface of the earth causing damage to living organisms.

Santiago Arce · Answer

undefined The ozone layer was formed over millions of years through a process involving the interaction of oxygen molecules (O2) with ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. This process occurs in the stratosphere, a region of the Earth's atmosphere located between approximately 10 and 50 kilometers above the Earth's surface. UV radiation breaks apart oxygen molecules, resulting in the formation of ozone molecules (O3).

The ozone layer is primarily comprised of ozone molecules, which consist of three oxygen atoms bonded together (O3). These ozone molecules are distributed throughout the stratosphere, forming a layer that absorbs much of the incoming UV radiation from the sun. This absorption of UV radiation is essential for protecting life on Earth from the harmful effects of excessive UV exposure, including skin cancer, cataracts, and damage to marine ecosystems.