Ozonering

Ozonering is a term used in theoretical discussions of ozone chemistry to describe a hypothetical, cyclic assembly of ozone molecules (O3). It is not a standard or widely observed species in mainstream chemical literature.

In the proposed models, several O3 units would be joined by weak interactions or transient covalent linkages to form a closed ring. The precise geometry and stability depend on the number of units and the surrounding environment (gas phase, cold matrices, or condensed phases). Real ozone tends to exist as individual molecules with characteristic resonance structures and can form clusters under certain conditions, but a stable, well-characterized cyclic ozonering has not been demonstrated.

Evidence and exploration: Researchers study ozone clusters of the form (O3)n and ozonide intermediates in ozonolysis, as well as theoretical calculations of possible ring structures. However, there is no unambiguous experimental confirmation of a discrete ozonering as a separate molecular species. Techniques that could in principle detect such rings include high-resolution infrared spectroscopy, microwave spectroscopy, mass spectrometry of cold clusters, and quantum-chemical computations.

In context: The term is mainly used as a conceptual aid to discuss molecular clustering, non-covalent interactions, and the complexity of ozone chemistry rather than as a defined chemical species with established properties. See also ozone chemistry, ozonolysis, ozone clusters, and atmospheric chemistry.