ICQ>

Aaah, the university educat'n comes in handy, finally.

Ozone is three atoms of oxygen formed together rather unwillingly into one molecule (because of the electron arrangement, oxygen is much "happier" in pairs of atoms). Ozone has the stunning ability to absorb UV light, which breaks two ozone molecules down into three oxygen molecules (wow). That's why people like it so much in the upper atmosphere. Ozone is an oxidant (like chlorine), and can kill germs and nasties in water (pools, water supply, etc). I suppose it can also kill us, which is why it is a pollutant in the lower atmosphere. Ozone can be formed by ionisation of oxygen (electricity), eg in electric motors.

There's my tidbit for the day, and I knew it all!

Wow, isn't sceince wonderful...

Owen Woodland

PS Freon destroys ozone because the lovely chlorine (or was it fluoride?) atom in Chlorofluorohydrocarbons (large mostly inert molecules except for that one atom chaser) has a tendancy to destroy ozone molecules in a catalyttic reaction (ie it is not used up as it destroys the ozone), which means a little bit of gas does a lotta damage. I'm not saying that R134a gas doesn't, it is also supposedly an ozone eater, just not quite as agressive as R12.