Following form(s) of oxygen is/are involved in ozone-oxygen cycle
Correct Answer :
All of the above
Solution :
The correct option is All of the above.
The ozone-oxygen cycle (also known as the Chapman cycle) is a continuous process by which ozone is continually regenerated and destroyed in the Earth's stratosphere. This cycle involves three distinct forms of oxygen: diatomic oxygen, atomic oxygen, and triatomic oxygen (ozone).
Let us break down the cycle step-by-step to see how each form is involved:
1. Production of atomic oxygen and ozone: The cycle begins when diatomic oxygen molecules () absorb high-energy ultraviolet radiation (UV-C) from the sun and photolyze (split) into two individual, highly reactive oxygen atoms (atomic oxygen, ):
2. Formation of ozone (triatomic oxygen): Each of these free atomic oxygen () radicals quickly binds with another diatomic oxygen () molecule in the presence of a third collision partner (like nitrogen or oxygen, represented by ) to create ozone (triatomic oxygen, ):
3. Ozone destruction (photolysis): The newly formed ozone () absorbs medium-energy ultraviolet radiation (UV-B), splitting back into diatomic oxygen () and atomic oxygen ():
4. Recombination: Additionally, an ozone molecule can react with a free oxygen atom to reform two diatomic oxygen molecules:
Since the cycle actively utilizes and interconverts atomic oxygen (), diatomic oxygen (), and triatomic oxygen (), all three forms of oxygen are involved in the ozone-oxygen cycle.
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