KOMPAS.com – Ozone layer plays an important role in protecting the earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. What is the formation process? ozone layer? The ozone layer is formed through a natural cycle known as Chapman cycle.
Ozone molecules in the atmosphere are not at a fixed level. Rather it can be renewed and destroyed in the Chapman cycle.
The ozone layer is formed from ozone compounds which are formed from three oxygen atoms (O3). Ozone is formed about 6 to 30 miles above the earth’s surface, to be precise in the stratosphere.
Here is the process of ozone formation in the Chapman cycle!
Read also: Causes of the Depletion of the Ozone Layer
Ozone formation process
Photodissociation of oxygen molecules
The formation of ozone begins with the photodissociation of oxygen in the stratosphere. Reported from Lumen Learningabsorption of ultraviolet photons results in photodissociation or splitting of molecular oxygen (O2) into atomic oxygen radicals (O).
Photons of sunlight have energy in the form of hv. Thus, the photodissociation reaction of oxygen molecules can be written as:
hv + O2 → 2O
Ozone formation
Each of the oxygen atomic radicals (O) formed above then reacts with molecular oxygen (O2). The reaction produces an ozone molecule (O3) with the reaction equation:
O2 + O → O3
It is at this time that the Chapman cycle forms the ozone layer in the Earth’s atmosphere.
Read also: Ozone Layer Depleting, How is the Process?
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