Ozone or trioxygen
Ozone is an allotrope of oxygen. It is present in the upper atmosphere, where it is formed by the
O
action of U. V. radiations on 2
,
3O 2
2 O 3
U . V . radiation
Ozone
.
O
protects us from the harmful U. V. radiations which causes skin cancer. Now a days, ozone
3
layer in the atmosphere is depleting due to NO released by supersonic aircrafts and chlorofluoro
carbons (CFC’S) i.e. freon which is increasingly being used in aerosols and as a refrigerant.
Preparation : Ozone is prepared by passing silent electric discharge through pure, cold and dry
oxygen in a specially designed apparatus called ozoniser. The formation of ozone from oxygen is
an endothermic reaction.
Silent electric
H 285 . 4 kJ
3O 2 2O 3
discharge
Ozone is prepared in the laboratory by the following two types of ozonisers,
(a) Siemen’s ozoniser, (b) Brodie’s ozoniser
For the better yield of ozone : (a) Only pure and dry oxygen should be used. (b) The ozoniser must
be perfectly dry. (c) A fairly low temperature ( 273 K ) must be maintained. (d) The electric
discharge must be sparkless.
Physical properties : Ozone is a light blue coloured gas, having pungent odour. It is heavier than air.
Its vapour density is 24. It is slightly soluble in water.
Chemical properties : The important chemical properties of ozone are discussed below,
O
(1) Decomposition : Pure ozone decomposes on heating above 475 K to form 2
gas.
2O 3 3 O 2
475 K
H 285 . 4 kJ
(2) Oxidising agent : Ozone is one of the most powerful oxidising agent with the liberation of
dioxygen. In fact, ozone is a stronger oxidising agent than molecular oxygen because ozone has
higher energy content and decomposes to give atomic oxygen as:
O3 O2 O
Atomic oxygen
Therefore, ozone oxidises a number of non-metals and other reducing agents. e.g.
2 Ag O 3 Ag 2 O O 2 ; S 3 O 3 SO 3 3 O 2
Metal Silver oxide
Non metal
O3 + H2O2 H2O + 2O2
PbS 4 O 3 PbSO 4
4O 2
Compound
Mercury is oxidised to mercurous oxide,
2 Hg O 3 Hg 2 O O 2
Mercurous oxide
During this reaction mercury loses its meniscus and starts sticking to the sides of the glass. This
is known as tailing of mercury. Mercurous oxide formed in this reaction dissolves in mercury and
starts sticking to the glass surface.
(3) Bleaching agent : Due to the oxidising action of ozone, it acts as a mild bleaching agent as well
as a sterilizing agent. It acts as a bleaching agent for vegetable colouring matter.
Vegetable colouring matter O 3 Oxidised coloured matter O2
( Colourless )
For example, ozone bleaches indigo, ivory, litmus, delicate fabrics etc.
CCl
(4) Formation of ozonides : Ozone reacts with alkenes in the presence of 4
to form an ozonide.
e.g.
1
O
CH 2 CH 2 O 3 H
CCl 4
2C CH 2
Ethylene
O O
Ethylene ozonide
Structure of O3 : The structure of O molecule is angular as shown in fig. The
3 O O O bond angle
is 116.8° and O O bond length is 128 pm.
O
12816.8°p 12816.8°p
m m
116.8°
O O
Uses of ozone
(1) O is used for disinfecting water for drinking purposes because ozone has germicidal
3
properties.
(2) It is used for purifying air of crowded places such as cinemas, under ground railway,
auditoriums, tunnels, mines etc.
(3) It is used in industry for the manufacture of KMnO 4 , artificial silk, synthetic camphor etc.