Ozone (O3)
Definition
Ozone is a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms bonded together. It plays a crucial role in the Earth's atmosphere by absorbing harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun.
Analogy
Think of ozone as a protective shield around the Earth, similar to how sunscreen protects your skin from harmful UV rays. Just like how ozone absorbs UV radiation before it reaches us, sunscreen absorbs UV rays before they harm our skin.
Related terms
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation: Electromagnetic radiation from the Sun that has shorter wavelengths than visible light and can cause damage to living organisms.
Stratosphere: The layer of Earth's atmosphere located above the troposphere where most of the ozone is found.
Ozone depletion: The gradual thinning of Earth's ozone layer due to human-made chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
"Ozone (O3)" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.