otsonimolekyylien

Otsonimolekyylien is the Finnish term for ozone molecules. An ozone molecule is composed of three oxygen atoms, represented by the chemical formula O3. This is in contrast to the more common oxygen molecule, which consists of two oxygen atoms (O2). Ozone is an allotrope of oxygen, meaning it is a different structural form of the same element.

Ozone is a gas that is found in two primary regions of Earth's atmosphere. In the stratosphere, a region extending from about 10 to 50 kilometers above the Earth's surface, ozone forms the ozone layer. This layer is crucial for life on Earth as it absorbs a significant portion of the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation, particularly the harmful UV-B rays. Without the ozone layer, life on the surface would be exposed to much higher levels of damaging UV radiation, leading to increased rates of skin cancer, cataracts, and harm to ecosystems.

In the troposphere, the lowest layer of the atmosphere extending from the surface up to about 7-15 kilometers, ozone is considered a pollutant. Ground-level ozone is a major component of smog and is formed by chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight. This type of ozone can be harmful to human health, causing respiratory problems, and can also damage vegetation and other materials. Therefore, while stratospheric ozone is essential for life, tropospheric ozone is detrimental.