Biology 11th Edition by Cecie Starr ,Ralph Taggart

Exercise 11

Ozone is a chemically active form of oxygen gas. High in Earths atmosphere, a vast layer of it absorbs about 98 percent of the suns harmful rays. Normally, oxygen gas consists of two oxygen atoms joined in a double nonpolar covalent bond: O=O. Ozone has three covalent bonds in this arrangement: O=O-O. It is highly reactive with a variety of substances, and it gives up an oxygen atom and releases gaseous oxygen (O=O). Using what you know about chemistry, explain why you think it is so reactive.