Ozone, Acid Rain, and Biodiversity: Key Environmental Concepts

Ozone

Ozone (O₃) is a substance whose molecule is composed of three oxygen atoms, formed by the dissociation of the two atoms that make up oxygen gas. Each atom of oxygen released binds to another molecule of oxygen (O₂) to form ozone molecules (O₃).
At ambient temperature and pressure, ozone is a gas with a pungent odor and is usually colorless, but in higher concentrations, it may become slightly bluish. If inhaled in large quantities, it is toxic and can cause death.

Atmospheric Ozone

Atmospheric ozone is found in varying concentrations between 10 and 40 km above sea level, with its highest concentration around 25 km (the ozone layer) in the stratosphere. It acts in the atmosphere as an air scrubber and, especially, as a filter for ultraviolet rays from the sun. Without that filter, the existence of life on Earth would be impossible, hence the great importance of the ozone layer. Ozone in its natural form is a blue gas with a characteristic pungent odor. It liquefies at -111.9 °C and solidifies at -193 °C. Ozone concentrations of 100% are highly toxic to humans.

The first time ozone was used as a medical therapy was during World War I. War wounds treated with ozone healed better and faster than those treated with standard methods of the time. Nowadays, ozone therapy is practiced in almost all European and American countries, and in some countries, such as Italy and Germany, it falls under social security benefits.

Acid Rain

Acid rain is formed when moisture in the air combines with nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, emitted by factories, power plants, and vehicles that burn coal or petroleum products. In interaction with water vapor, these gases form sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Finally, these chemicals fall to earth with precipitation, forming acid rain.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity (from the English neologism Biodiversity, combining bio-, meaning life, and the Latin diversitas, -atis, meaning variety), also known as biological diversity, is the term that refers to the wide variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns that shape it. It results from thousands of millions of years of evolution by natural processes and the growing influence of human activities. Biodiversity also includes the variety of ecosystems and genetic differences within each species, which allows the combination of multiple forms of life. Their mutual interactions and the rest of the environment underlie the sustenance of life on the planet.