OZONE IN THE ATMOSPHERE

Ozone is a strong oxidant substances, toxic substances and micro-organism killer which is also strong. Ozone is commonly used to sterilize water refill, and can also be used to remove color and unpleasant smell in the water.

Ozone is formed naturally in the stratosphere. The formation and destruction of ozone in the stratosphere is protective mechanism of the earth from UV rays from the sun. In tropospheric ozone is formed through photochemical reactions in the various air pollutant substances. Ozone layer is found in the stratosphere and also in the troposphere layer. Ozone is found in the stratosphere protects humans working and living on the earth from UV radiation light. While ozone is present in tropospheric layer has a different effect on the earth and the creatures living in it, even though the same chemical composition. This tropospheric ozone is toxic and is one of the greenhouse gases. In addition, tropospheric ozone also cause damage to the plants, paint, plastics and human health.

Ozone O3 has chemical formula, chemical formula resembles O2 oxygen molecule with an oxygen atom more. At room temperature the form of ozone gas, condensing at a temperature of -112 oC to liquid blue. This liquid ozone will be frozen at -251.4 oC, while at temperatures above 100 oC ozone decompose quickly.

From molekol O2, by the reaction. Ozone is formed will be back breaks into oxygen molecules. In nature, formation and destruction of ozone is in a state of balance, so that ozone levels are in dynamic balance. Both these reactions can effectively block UV rays and extreme UV-C and most UV-B rays to reach the earth. This is the natural mechanism that protects the earth and its inhabitants from the short-wave UV radiation harmful to life. Both these reactions also lead to rising temperatures in the stratosphere than the temperature in the troposphere. Approximately 3 billion years ago, as a result of evolution on earth emerged berklorofil living thing, begin the process of photosynthesis that occurs one result is O2. the longer, higher levels of O2, thus increasing levels of ozone that is formed. Thus, the more UV rays short gelombnag blocked by the ozone layer to reach the surface of the earth. And this is the forerunner of life on land.

However, over time, the number of population and industrial progress and development resulted in the ozone layer is starting hole. Ozone hole is very worrying because the reduction in ozone means kada increased UV-B rays that will reach the earth. The impact of increased UV-B rays can be very big on living things on earth.

Occurrence of the ozone hole was the result of increased levels of NOx from aircraft fuel burning, increased levels of N2O as a result of biomass burning and fertilizer oenggunaan, which is a source of N2O formation of NO.

In addition, the chemicals that we know clorofuorocarbon or CFCs had an enormous impact on ozone destruction. CFCs are a class of chemicals consisting of three types unrus, namely chlorine (Cl), fluorine (F) and carbon (C). CFC is the dominating problem of ozone destruction and become a substance that is suspected as the cause of ozone destruction. CFCs are not found in nature, but rather is an intermediate result of human engineering. CFCs are not toxic, does not burn and is very stable because it is not easy to react. Therefore become an ideal material for the industry. CFCs are widely used as a cooling agent in refrigerators and car air-conditioning (CFC-12), as a material for making plastic foams, seat cushions and car seats (CFC-11), a mixture of CFC-11 and CFC-12 used for driving aerosols, and CFC -13 commonly used in dry cleaning.