Video Transcript
What is the chemical formula of a
molecule of ozone?
This question asks us about
ozone. Ozone is a gas at room
temperature. It has a pale-blue color that can
be observed when it is found in high concentrations. It also has a pungent odor. Ozone is a molecule of great
importance as it makes up a vital part of our atmosphere called the ozone layer.
The ozone layer is a region of the
stratosphere that exists between 20 and 40 kilometers above sea level and contains
high concentrations of ozone molecules. Surrounding the Earth, the
atmosphere can be categorized into different layers. Scientists have named these layers
and have studied their differing compositions.
The ozone layer is found in the
layer called the stratosphere. The ozone layer in the stratosphere
is the area of high concentration of ozone molecules. The ozone layer has the vital
function of protecting the Earth from the Sun’s radiation. It does so by absorbing harmful
ultraviolet, or UV, radiation. This layer can do so due to the
behavior of ozone molecules. Ozone molecules are composed of
three oxygen atoms bonded together. The chemical formula for this
molecule contains the chemical symbol for oxygen, which is capital O. The O is followed by a subscript of
three to represent the three oxygen atoms chemically bonded together. Therefore, the chemical formula of
a molecule of ozone is O3.
