Question

Complete the following passage(s) with an appropriate word/term to be filled in the blank spaces
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Triatomic, Ozonosphere, Ozone shield, Diatomic, ozone, Equator, Poles, Reactive.
- Ozone is a (1)......... molecule made up of three oxygen atoms $O3$ . The normal oxygen molecule is (2)......... Oxygen is essential for all aerobic forms and combustion activities. (3).......... is a deadly poison.
- Very little of it is present in the lower part of the atmosphere called (4)............. A good quantity of ozone is present in the stratum of the atmosphere called (5)........... It lies above the troposphere and extends between 16-50 km of height above (6).......... and 8-30 km above (7)........
- Here it is formed in situ from oxygen by the action of high energy ultraviolet rays. The latter spilt some oxygen molecules into nascent or atomic molecules(O). Atomic molecules are highly (8).......... It combines with $O_2$ to form ozone. The area of the stratosphere which is rich in ozone is called an ozone layer or (9)........... It is also called as (10)..............

Answer 1

Ozone$O_3$ is a highly reactive gas which is composed of three atoms of oxygen. It is both a natural and a man-made substance that exists in the ozone molecule (the stratosphere) of the upper atmosphere of the Earth and the lower atmosphere (the troposphere). Ozone impacts life on Earth in either good or bad ways, depending on where in the atmosphere it is.

Complete Answer:
- Ozone is a (1) Triatomic molecule made up of three oxygen atoms $O_3$. The normal oxygen molecule is (2) Diatomic. Oxygen is essential for all aerobic forms and combustion activities. (3) Ozone is a deadly poison.
- Very little of it is present in the lower part of the atmosphere called (4) Troposphere. A good quantity of ozone is present in the stratum of atmosphere called (5) Stratosphere. It lies above the troposphere and extends between 16-50 km of height above (6) Equator and 8-30 km above** (7) Poles.
- Here it is formed in situ from oxygen by the action of high energy ultraviolet rays. The latter spilt some oxygen molecules into nascent or atomic molecules(O). Atomic molecules are highly **(8) Reactive. **It combines with $O_2$ to form ozone. The area of the stratosphere which is rich in ozone is called an ozone layer or (9) Ozonosphere. It is also called (10) Ozone shield.

In the Earth's stratosphere, it exists naturally in limited quantities, where it absorbs solar ultraviolet radiation, which may otherwise cause serious harm to living organisms on the surface of the Earth. Under certain conditions, photochemical reactions in the lower atmosphere between nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons can create ozone at concentrations high enough to cause eye and mucous membrane irritation.

Note: Ozone depletion is a significant environmental concern because it increases the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that reaches the surface of the Earth, increasing the rate of damage to skin cancer, eye cataracts and the genetic and immune system.