Question

How is ozone both beneficial and damaging? How can we prevent the damaging effect of ozone?

Answer 1

Hint: Ozone is a kind of natural gas that is present within the atmosphere. The symbol of ozone is $O_3$. That means when three oxygen atoms combine together they will form ozone. Ozone is present both on the higher layer of atmosphere as well as in the lower layer of atmosphere. It has a dual role that means beneficial as well as harmful effects depending on its location.

Complete answer:
Ozone is present in the layer of atmosphere known as the Stratosphere, there it forms a layer. And ozone is also present near the surface of the earth that means in the lower atmosphere known as the Troposphere.
The location of ozone makes it good or bad or decides whether it will be beneficial or harmful in nature.
If we talk about the ozone that is present in the stratosphere layer. There it acts as a protective blanket for the earth. The harmful radiations that come from the sun in order to reach the earth, first these radiations fall on the ozone layer and the ozone layer does not allow them to pass and hence protects the earth from those harmful radiations. This is how it will be beneficial to us.
Now, if we talk about the ozone that is present in the troposphere, it is called bad ozone. The reason behind this is that chemical responses between air pollutants from smoke, vehicle exhaust and other emissions create ozone that is very toxic to people, plants and every living being. This is how it is damaging to us.
The protective layer of ozone is depleting due to the presence of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that are present in the atmosphere. They will combine with other gases and reach the stratosphere and they depletes the ozone layer.
We can prevent the damaging effect of ozone by:
Reduce the level of CFCs in the atmosphere, by avoiding using air conditioners, refrigerators etc.
Reduce automobile exhaust by more using public transports, using bicycles etc.

Note:
CFCs that reach the stratosphere layer break down themselves by radiation and give off the chlorine and then this chlorine reacts with unstable ozone and hence damages the layer and deplete it. In lower atmosphere ozone also behaves as a greenhouse gas and it also causes many respiratory problems in humans when inhaled in large quantities.