Question

Study the following statements about ozone:
(a) It is essential for the breathing of living organisms.
(b) It is used to disinfect water.
(c) It absorbs ultraviolet rays.
(d) Its proportion of air is about 3%.
Which of these statements are correct?
A. (a), (b) and (c)
B. (b) and (c)
C. (a) and (d)
D. All four

Answer 1

Hint:It is a highly reactive gas present in the stratosphere which is essential to prevent the harmful rays coming from the sun. It impacts life on Earth in either good and bad ways.

Complete answer:
Ozone consists of 3 oxygen atoms and is a highly reactive gas. It is a natural product as well as a human product which occurs both in the earth's upper and lower atmosphere molecule or the stratosphere and the troposphere. Ozone impacts life on Earth in either good and bad ways depending on where it is in the atmosphere.

Ozone is a strong oxidant that creates a wide range of biocide when dissolved in water that kills all bacteria, viruses and cysts. Since 1904 ozone treatment of water has been commercially used for drinking water treatment.

An ozone layer that blocks almost all the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation is a small part of the atmosphere of the Earth. In comparison to other areas of the atmosphere it contains a high ozone concentration, but still weak relative to the other gases in the stratosphere. The ozone layer is less than 10 parts for every million ozone and the Earth's overall average ozone concentration is around 0.3 parts for every million. The ozone layer is located mostly in the lower portion of the stratosphere, from around 15 to 35 kilometers, although its seasonal as well as geographical thickness is variable.

Thus, the correct answer is option B. i.e., (b) and (c).

Note:Like a sponge, the layer of ozone absorbs radiation from the sun. Although some of the radiation from the sun might be appropriate to survive, too much can harm living things. The layer of ozone serves as a lifetime security on Earth.