Exact Answer: 1-4 Hours
Ozone is the trade name of the IUPAC molecule trioxygen. It is an inorganic molecule, and its chemical formula has three oxygen atoms with covalent bonds. The molar mass of ozone is approximately forty-eight grams per mol. The gas is pale blue and has a pungent smell.
Ozone is the lesser stable allotrope of diatomic oxygen known as dioxygen. In the lower atmosphere, ozone breaks down into dioxygen and is very unstable. The melting, as well as the boiling point of ozone, is below -100 degrees celsius. The gas is moderately dense at room temperature. The gas is present in minute concentrations in the atmosphere.
How Long Does It Take Ozone To Dissipate?
When the Ultraviolet (UV) rays fall on the dioxygen molecule, electrical discharges occur in the Earth’s atmosphere, and Ozone is formed. The gas concentration is very high in the upper layers of the atmosphere, and it absorbs the majority of the ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun. The structure of the Ozone was first identified in the year 1865. Later on, it was determined that the molecule has a bent configuration and it is weakly paramagnetic. At suitable conditions, the gas transforms into a dark blue liquid. Further, the liquid transforms into a violet-black solid.
As the Ozone is highly unstable, its presence in liquid and concentrated gas decomposes explosively at high temperatures or rapid warming closer to the boiling point. Commercially, the compound is only used in low concentrations. However, ozone has high oxidizing power and is an excellent oxidant. As a result, Ozone has various consumer and industrial applications related to oxidation.
| Concentration Of Ozone | Time Taken For Ozone To Dissipate |
| Low Concentrations | One to two hours |
| High Concentrations | Three to four hours |
Chemical experts have identified that as soon as the conditions become favorable, the third atom of oxygen present in the Ozone breaks apart, and the molecule changes into dioxygen. If the Ozone concentrations are low, it takes one to two hours for the molecule to dissipate. In contrast, when the concentration increases, it takes three to four hours to dissipate Ozone.
Why Does It Take That Long For Ozone To Dissipate?
In the upper layer of the stratosphere, high concentrations of Ozone gas are present. This layer is called the Ozone layer and is responsible for protecting the earth from the harmful ultraviolet radiation emitted from the sun. The ozone layer is the primary reason for the survival of all the plants and animals on the Earth’s surface. Direct exposure to ultraviolet rays can result in skin cancer and can be deadly. However, the Ozone layer is now slowly depleting because of the harmful gases like Chlorofluorocarbons released from various electrical appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners.
Ozone is dissipated into dioxygen in two ways. The first method is when the molecule reacts with the UV rays, and the second when it reacts with oxygen. Of UV rays, the molecule absorbs either UV-B or UV-C radiation and is broken down into dioxygen and single oxygen. This single oxygen then reacts with more molecules of ozone and forms two molecules of dioxygen. However, if dioxygen responds before ozone with single oxygen, then it will revert into ozone. This cycle keeps going on until ozone finds suitable conditions to remain stable.
Direct exposure to high concentrations can be harmful and can cause breathing problems. In some cases, overexposure to Ozone has also resulted in organ failure. Ozone is a pollutant, and the gas concentration in the environment must not exceed 0.1 ppm. However, Ozone has been identified as an excellent water disinfectant and is mixed in minute quantities in water for purity purposes.
Conclusion
Overall, it can be concluded that Ozone is an allotrope of the molecule dioxygen and is present in meager quantities in the environment. However, its presence is very rich in the upper layer of the atmosphere. The gas is responsible for protecting the earth from the harmful ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun.
On average, it takes one to four hours for an ozone molecule to dissipate. The gas reverts into oxygen after reacting with sunlight or single oxygen. Ozone is a precious gas and has many uses, such as a disinfectant. High concentrations of Ozone in the environment are hazardous.