ozone molecules floating in the atmosphere blocking ultraviolet (UV) radiation, image by Russell Kightley Media

ALL MOLECULAR GRAPHICS: OZONE: simplified graphic model of ozone molecules, O₃, in the ozone layer absorbing ultraviolet radiation

ozone molecules in the ozone layer absorbing ultraviolet radiation

(above) ozone image #1 (ozone layer): picture showing oxygen molecules (O₂), atomic oxygen (O), and ozone (O₃) molecules in the stratosphere. This image is 400 x 553 pixels; the original measures 2,048 x 2,833 pixels.

(above) ozone image #2 (ozone molecule): picture showing an ozone molecule. This image is 400 x 400 pixels; the original measures 2,048 x 2,048 pixels.

(above) ozone image #3 (ozone molecule): picture showing an ozone molecule on a purple background. This image is 400 x 400 pixels; the original measures 2,048 x 2,048 pixels.

ozone molecule on a yellow sky background

(above) ozone image #4 (ozone molecule): picture showing an ozone molecule on a yellow background. This image is 400 x 400 pixels; the original measures 2,048 x 2,048 pixels.

OZONE MOLECULE:

red spheres = oxygen (O) atoms drawn at approximately their covalent radius
dark bluish bubble = "surface" of the molecule created from the individual van der Waals surface

Ozone Structure, O₃: ozone gas consists of three oxygen atoms covalently joined.

Ozone Layer: the top image illustrates how the ozone layer blocks ultraviolet (UV) rays. At upper left, an oxygen molecule (O₂) is hit by a high energy photon which causes it to split into two oxygen atoms (photo-dissociation of oxygen). Individual oxygen atoms can then be seen combining with oxygen molecules to create ozone (O₃). The ozone molecules absorb ultraviolet (UV) radiation (illustrated as purplish beams of light) and in so doing split into an oxygen molecule and an oxygen atom (which can then recombine to create more ozone). Depletion of the ozone layer creating a so called ozone hole is a worry because the UV that reaches the surface can damage DNA and cause skin cancer.

LINKS TO MAJOR GREENHOUSE GAS MOLECULAR IMAGES:

MOLECULES: ozone, O3

ALL MOLECULAR GRAPHICS: OZONE: simplified graphic model of ozone molecules, O3, in the ozone layer absorbing ultraviolet radiation

(above) ozone image #1 (ozone layer): picture showing oxygen molecules (O2), atomic oxygen (O), and ozone (O3) molecules in the stratosphere. This image is 400 x 553 pixels; the original measures 2,048 x 2,833 pixels.

(above) ozone image #2 (ozone molecule): picture showing an ozone molecule. This image is 400 x 400 pixels; the original measures 2,048 x 2,048 pixels.

(above) ozone image #3 (ozone molecule): picture showing an ozone molecule on a purple background. This image is 400 x 400 pixels; the original measures 2,048 x 2,048 pixels.

(above) ozone image #4 (ozone molecule): picture showing an ozone molecule on a yellow background. This image is 400 x 400 pixels; the original measures 2,048 x 2,048 pixels.

MOLECULES: ozone, O₃

ALL MOLECULAR GRAPHICS: OZONE: simplified graphic model of ozone molecules, O₃, in the ozone layer absorbing ultraviolet radiation

(above) ozone image #1 (ozone layer): picture showing oxygen molecules (O₂), atomic oxygen (O), and ozone (O₃) molecules in the stratosphere. This image is 400 x 553 pixels; the original measures 2,048 x 2,833 pixels.