Welcome to the Ozone Video

Well start with how Ozone is good up high but bad nearby
Up high, in the stratosphere, Ozone shields the earth from the Suns harmful UV
rays.
Nearby in the Troposphere, Ozone is toxic and created in photochemical smog.
UVa light is beneficial to us as it provides us with vitamin D and it is beneficial to
plant as it is required for photosynthesis.
UVb light is harmful as it causes skin cancer, eye cataracts, decreased immune
system response (which leads to disease), severe sunburn and it also damages
plants
Lets look at a diagram
Here is the Earth
And here is the Troposphere
Stratosphere
And that blue line is the Ozone layer
Lets put some UVa light and some UVb light
The good UVa rays reach the Earths surface and the UVb rays get stopped at
the Ozone layer.
Lets have a look at that more closely.
Here is an oxygen molecule with its double covalent bond between two oxygen
atoms.
When the UVb light hits it, the double bond breaks forming two unpaired
oxygens or oxygen free radicals
So well have a look at the chemistry in the ozone.
Here is an Oxygen molecule. When the shorter wave UVb hit it, it forms two
oxygen free radicals.
When these free radicals combine with complete oxygen molecule they form
Ozone.
When Ozone reacts with these free radicals it forms oxygen again and we can
start back at the first equation.
When the longer wave UVb rays hit Ozone, it forms Oxygen and a free radical,
therefore continuing equations 1, 2 and 3.
These equations combine to form an equilibrium, a self-sustaining pattern of
reactions. We can also see that both longer and shorter wave UVb rays are
absorbed in this process. Therefore, this harmful radiation never reaches
ground.
So, that is why Ozone is good up high!
Lets look at bad nearby.
First we need to have a glance at how Ozone compares to the two main
atmospheric gases
(Read off screen)

Lets have a look at how it builds up in the atmosphere

Processes, such as combustion in cars and industry, release gases into the
atmosphere. These gases build up in the Troposphere. When the UV rays from
the sun hit these gases, they form Ozone and other substances which are
harmful to the environment and society. This new layer of harmful gases is called
Photochemical Smog or Smog.
These equations show how Ozone gas (O 3) can form in high concentrations of
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) gas.
The Nitrogen Dioxide is released from the processes mentioned before. When
the UV light is intense enough it acts on high concentrations of NO 2 to form Nitric
Oxide and an Oxygen Free Radical which combines with Oxygen to form Ozone.
Ozone is a stronger Oxidiser than Oxygen, especially in acidic environments.
This is bad because Ozone is toxic as it interferes with normal biochemical
processes in the body. It also affects the eyes and causes breathing difficulties.
Ozone affects plants, which is concerning for agricultural crops, and attacks
rubber and plastics.
How do we change this? Laws have been put in place restricting the exhaust
produced and systems used.