lozone

Lozone is a fictional chemical species used primarily in speculative fiction, game design, and worldbuilding. The term is not recognized in mainstream chemistry, and there is no real substance known as lozone. In most settings, lozone is depicted as an unstable, ozone-like oxidant with properties that vary across works but share several common traits.

Origins and terminology: The name lozone appears as a portmanteau of “low” or “lo-” and “ozone,” signaling its relation to ozone but distinct behavior. Writers treat lozone as a reactive plasma gas or molecular allotrope formed under extreme energy input, such as high-energy discharges, atmospheric shocks, or inside advanced reactors.

Physical properties: In fiction, lozone is often described as a pale-blue or colorless gas with strong luminescence or infrared emission. It is highly reactive with organic material and can initiate rapid oxidation or polymerization. It is typically short-lived, decomposing back to ordinary oxygen or forming complex byproducts.

Production and handling: In-world, lozone production requires specialized equipment and safety measures, such as vacuum containment, inert gas shielding, and rapid quenching to prevent runaway reactions. It is usually described as difficult to store and transport due to its reactivity and tendency to decompose.

Applications and role: Authors use lozone as a plot device for energy storage, propulsion, sterilization, or weaponization. It may feature in planetary atmospheres that differ from Earth, in artificial environments, or as a magical-alchemical catalyst.

See also: Ozone, Oxidants in fiction, List of fictional chemical elements and compounds.