Ozone molecule shape. Ozone
Phrase " ozone layer", which became famous in the 70s. last century, has long set teeth on edge. At the same time, few people really understand what this concept means and why the destruction of the ozone layer is dangerous. An even greater mystery for many is the structure of the ozone molecule, which is directly related to the problems of the ozone layer. Let's learn more about ozone, its structure and the use of this substance in industry.
What is ozone
Ozone, or, as it is also called, active oxygen, is an azure-colored gas with a pungent metallic odor.
This substance can exist in all three states of aggregation: gaseous, solid and liquid.
In nature, ozone occurs only in the form of a gas, forming the so-called ozone layer. It is because of its azure color that the sky appears blue.
What does an ozone molecule look like?
Ozone got its nickname “active oxygen” because of its similarity to oxygen. So the main active chemical element in these substances is oxygen (O). However, if an oxygen molecule contains 2 of its atoms, then the molecule - O 3) consists of 3 atoms of this element.
Due to this structure, the properties of ozone are similar to those of oxygen, but more pronounced. In particular, like O 2, O 3 is a strong oxidizing agent.
The most important difference between these “related” substances, which is vital for everyone to remember, is the following: ozone cannot be breathed, it is toxic and, if inhaled, can damage the lungs or even kill a person. At the same time, O 3 is excellent for purifying the air from toxic impurities. By the way, this is precisely why it’s so easy to breathe after rain: ozone oxidizes harmful substances contained in the air and it is purified.
The model of the ozone molecule (consisting of 3 oxygen atoms) is a bit like the image of an angle, and its size is 117°. This molecule has no unpaired electrons and is therefore diamagnetic. In addition, it has polarity, although it consists of atoms of one element.
The two atoms of a given molecule are firmly bonded to each other. But communication with the third is less reliable. For this reason, the ozone molecule (photo of the model can be seen below) is very fragile and disintegrates soon after formation. As a rule, during any decomposition reaction of O 3, oxygen is released.
Due to the instability of ozone, it cannot be harvested, stored, or transported like other substances. For this reason, its production is more expensive than other substances.
At the same time, the high activity of O 3 molecules allows this substance to be a strong oxidizing agent, more powerful than oxygen and safer than chlorine.
If an ozone molecule is destroyed and O 2 is released, this reaction is always accompanied by the release of energy. At the same time, for the reverse process to occur (formation of O 3 from O 2), it is necessary to spend no less.
In the gaseous state, the ozone molecule disintegrates at a temperature of 70° C. If it is increased to 100 degrees or more, the reaction will accelerate significantly. The presence of impurities also accelerates the decay period of ozone molecules.
Properties of O3
No matter which of the three states ozone is in, it retains its blue color. The harder the substance, the richer and darker the shade.
Each ozone molecule weighs 48 g/mol. It is heavier than air, which helps separate these substances from each other.
O 3 is capable of oxidizing almost all metals and non-metals (except gold, iridium and platinum).
This substance can also participate in the combustion reaction, but this requires a higher temperature than O2.
Ozone is able to dissolve in H 2 O and freons. In the liquid state, it can be mixed with liquid oxygen, nitrogen, methane, argon, carbon tetrachloride and carbon dioxide.
How is the ozone molecule formed?
O 3 molecules are formed by attaching free oxygen atoms to oxygen molecules. They, in turn, appear due to the splitting of other O 2 molecules due to exposure to electrical discharges, ultraviolet rays, fast electrons and other high-energy particles. For this reason, the specific smell of ozone can be felt near sparkling electrical appliances or lamps emitting ultraviolet light.
IN industrial scale O 3 is isolated using electric or ozonizers. In these devices, a high voltage electric current is passed through a gas stream in which O 2 is located, the atoms of which serve as “ building material» for ozone.
Sometimes pure oxygen or ordinary air is introduced into these devices. The quality of the resulting ozone depends on the purity of the starting product. Thus, medical O 3, intended for treating wounds, is extracted only from chemically pure O 2.
History of the discovery of ozone
Having understood what the ozone molecule looks like and how it is formed, it is worth getting acquainted with the history of this substance.
It was first synthesized by the Dutch researcher Martin Van Marum in the second half of the 18th century. The scientist noticed that after passing electric sparks through a container of air, the gas in it changed its properties. At the same time, Van Marum did not realize that he had isolated the molecules of a new substance.
But his German colleague named Sheinbein, trying to decompose H 2 O into H and O 2 using electricity, noticed the release of a new gas with a pungent odor. After conducting a lot of research, the scientist described the substance he discovered and gave it the name “ozone” in honor of the Greek word for “smell.”
The ability to kill fungi and bacteria, as well as reduce the toxicity of harmful compounds, which the discovered substance possessed, interested many scientists. 17 years after the official discovery of O 3, Werner von Siemens designed the first apparatus that made it possible to synthesize ozone in any quantity. And 39 years later, the brilliant Nikola Tesla invented and patented the world's first ozone generator.
It was this device that, just 2 years later, was first used in France at treatment facilities for drinking water. Since the beginning of the 20th century. Europe is beginning to switch to ozonation of drinking water to purify it.
The Russian Empire first used this technique in 1911, and 5 years later the country installed almost 4 dozen installations for purifying drinking water using ozone.
Today, ozonation of water is gradually replacing chlorination. Thus, 95% of all drinking water in Europe is purified with O 3. This technique is also very popular in the USA. In the CIS it is still at the research stage, because although this procedure is safer and more convenient, it is more expensive than chlorination.
Areas of application of ozone
In addition to water purification, O 3 has a number of other applications.
- Ozone is used as a bleaching agent in the production of paper and textiles.
- Active oxygen is used to disinfect wines, as well as to accelerate the “aging” process of cognacs.
- Various vegetable oils are refined using O3.
- Very often this substance is used to process perishable foods such as meat, eggs, fruits and vegetables. This procedure does not leave chemical traces, as when using chlorine or formaldehyde, and products can be stored much longer.
- Sterilize with ozone medical equipment and clothes.
- Purified O3 is also used for various medical and cosmetic procedures. In particular, it is used in dentistry to disinfect oral cavity and gums, and also treat various diseases (stomatitis, herpes, oral candidiasis). In European countries, O 3 is very popular for wound disinfection.
- IN last years Portable home devices for filtering air and water using ozone are becoming extremely popular.
Ozone layer - what is it?
At a distance of 15-35 km above the Earth's surface there is an ozone layer, or, as it is also called, the ozonosphere. In this place, concentrated O 3 serves as a kind of filter for harmful solar radiation.
Where does this amount of substance come from if its molecules are unstable? It is not difficult to answer this question if you remember the model of the ozone molecule and the method of its formation. So, oxygen, consisting of 2 oxygen molecules, entering the stratosphere, is heated there by the sun's rays. This energy is enough to split O 2 into atoms from which O 3 is formed. At the same time, the ozone layer not only uses part solar energy, but also filters it and absorbs dangerous ultraviolet radiation.
It was said above that ozone is dissolved by freons. These gaseous substances (used in the manufacture of deodorants, fire extinguishers and refrigerators), once released into the atmosphere, affect ozone and contribute to its decomposition. As a result, holes appear in the ozonosphere, through which unfiltered solar rays enter the planet, which have a destructive effect on living organisms.
Having examined the features and structure of ozone molecules, we can come to the conclusion that this substance, although dangerous, is very useful for humanity if used correctly.
OZONE O3 (from the Greek ozon-smelling) - allotropic modification oxygen, which can exist in all three states of aggregation. Ozone is an unstable compound, and even with room temperature slowly decomposes into molecular oxygen, but ozone is not a radical.
Physical properties
Molecular weight = 47.9982 g/mol. Ozone gas has a density of 2.144 10-3 g/cm3 at a pressure of 1 atm and 29° C.
Ozone is a special substance. It is extremely unstable and, with increasing concentration, easily disproportions according to the general scheme: 2O3 -> 3O2. In gaseous form, ozone has a bluish tint, noticeable when the air contains 15-20% ozone.
Ozone under normal conditions is a gas with a pungent odor. At very low concentrations, the smell of ozone is perceived as pleasantly fresh, but becomes unpleasant as the concentration increases. The smell of frozen laundry is the smell of ozone. It's easy to get used to.
Its main quantity is concentrated in the so-called “ozone belt” at an altitude of 15-30 km. At the surface of the earth, the concentration of ozone is much lower and is absolutely safe for living beings; there is even an opinion that its complete absence also negatively affects a person’s performance.
At concentrations of about 10 MAC, ozone is felt very well, but after a few minutes the feeling disappears almost completely. This must be kept in mind when working with it.
However, ozone also ensures the preservation of life on Earth, because The ozone layer retains the most destructive part of the sun's ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength of less than 300 nm for living organisms and plants, and, along with CO2, absorbs the infrared radiation of the Earth, preventing its cooling.
Ozone is more soluble in water than oxygen. In water, ozone decomposes much faster than in the gas phase, and the presence of impurities, especially metal ions, has an extremely large influence on the rate of decomposition.
Fig1. Ozone decomposition in various types water at a temperature of 20°C (1 - bidistillate; 2 - distillate; 3 - tap water; 4 - filtered lake water)
Ozone is well adsorbed by silica gel and aluminum gel. At a partial pressure of ozone, for example 20 mm Hg. Art., and at 0°C silica gel absorbs about 0.19% of ozone by weight. At low temperatures, adsorption is noticeably weakened. In the adsorbed state, ozone is very stable. The ionization potential of ozone is 12.8 eV.
Chemical properties of ozone
They are distinguished by two main features - instability and oxidizing ability. Mixed with air in small concentrations, it decomposes relatively slowly, but with increasing temperature its decomposition accelerates and at temperatures above 100 ° C it becomes very fast.
The presence of NO2, Cl in the air, as well as the catalytic effect of metal oxides - silver, copper, iron, manganese - accelerate the decomposition of ozone. Ozone has such strong oxidizing properties because one of the oxygen atoms is very easily split off from its molecule. Easily transforms into oxygen.
Ozone oxidizes most metals at ordinary temperatures. Acidic aqueous solutions of ozone are quite stable; in alkaline solutions, ozone is quickly destroyed. Metals of variable valency (Mn, Co, Fe, etc.), many oxides, peroxides and hydroxides effectively destroy ozone. Most metal surfaces are coated with an oxide film in the highest valence state of the metal (for example, PbO2, AgO or Ag2O3, HgO).
Ozone oxidizes all metals, with the exception of gold and platinum group metals, reacts with most other elements, decomposes hydrogen halides (except HF), converts lower oxides to higher ones, etc.
It does not oxidize gold, platinum, iridium, 75%Fe + 25%Cr alloy. It converts black lead sulfide PbS into white sulfate PbSO4, arsenous anhydride As2O3 into arsenic anhydride As2O5, etc.
The reaction of ozone with metal ions of variable valency (Mn, Cr and Co) has been found in recent years practical use for the synthesis of intermediate products for dyes, vitamin PP (isonicotinic acid), etc. Mixtures of manganese and chromium salts in an acidic solution containing an oxidizable compound (for example, methylpyridines) are oxidized with ozone. In this case, Cr3+ ions transform into Cr6+ and oxidize methylpyridines only at methyl groups. In the absence of metal salts, predominantly the aromatic core is destroyed.
Ozone also reacts with many gases that are present in the atmosphere. Hydrogen sulfide H2S, when combined with ozone, releases free sulfur, sulfur dioxide SO2 turns into sulfur dioxide SO3; nitrous oxide N2O - into oxide NO, nitrogen oxide NO is quickly oxidized to NO2, in turn NO2 also reacts with ozone, and ultimately N2O5 is formed; ammonia NH3 - into nitrogen-ammonia salt NH4NO3.
One of the most important reactions of ozone with inorganic substances is its decomposition of potassium iodide. This reaction is widely used for the quantitative determination of ozone.
Ozone reacts in some cases with solid substances, forming ozonides. Ozonides of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals have been isolated: strontium, barium, and their stabilization temperature increases in the indicated series; Ca(O3) 2 is stable at 238 K, Ba(O3) 2 at 273 K. Ozonides decompose to form superoxide, for example NaO3 -> NaO2 + 1/2O2. Various ozonides are also formed during the reactions of ozone with organic compounds.
Ozone oxidizes numerous organic matter, saturated, unsaturated and cyclic hydrocarbons. Many works have been published on the composition of the reaction products of ozone with various aromatic hydrocarbons: benzene, xylenes, naphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene, benzanthracene, diphenylamine, quinoline, acrylic acid, etc. It decolorizes indigo and many other organic dyes, due to which it is used even for bleaching fabrics.
The reaction rate of ozone with a double C=C bond is 100,000 times faster than the reaction rate of ozone with a single C-C bond. Therefore, rubber and rubber are primarily affected by ozone. Ozone reacts with a double bond to form an intermediate complex:
This reaction occurs quite quickly even at temperatures below 0°C. In the case of saturated compounds, ozone initiates the usual oxidation reaction:
The interaction of ozone with some organic dyes, which fluoresce strongly in the presence of ozone in the air, is interesting. These are, for example, eichrosine, riboflavin and luminol (triaminophthalhydrazide), and especially rhodamine-B and, similar to it, rhodamine-C.
The high oxidizing properties of ozone, destroying organic substances and oxidizing metals (especially iron) to an insoluble form, the ability to decompose gaseous compounds soluble in water, saturate aqueous solutions with oxygen, the low resistance of ozone in water and the self-destruction of its dangerous properties for humans - all this together makes ozone the most attractive substance for the preparation of household water and the treatment of various wastewater.
Ozone synthesis
Ozone is formed in a gas environment containing oxygen if conditions arise under which the oxygen dissociates into atoms. This is possible in all forms of electrical discharge: glow, arc, spark, corona, surface, barrier, electrodeless, etc. The main cause of dissociation is the collision of molecular oxygen with electrons accelerated in an electric field.
In addition to the discharge, the dissociation of oxygen is caused by UV radiation with a wavelength of less than 240 nm and various high-energy particles: alpha, beta, gamma particles, X-rays and so on. Ozone is also produced by electrolysis of water.
In almost all sources of ozone formation, there is a group of reactions as a result of which ozone decomposes. They interfere with the formation of ozone, but they really exist and must be taken into account. This includes thermal decomposition in the volume and on the walls of the reactor, its reactions with radicals and excited particles, reactions with additives and impurities that can come into contact with oxygen and ozone.
The complete mechanism consists of a significant number of reactions. Real installations, no matter what principle they operate on, show high energy costs for ozone production. The efficiency of an ozone generator depends on the type of power - total or active - the unit of mass of ozone generated is calculated at.
Barrier discharge
A barrier discharge is understood as a discharge that occurs between two dielectrics or a dielectric and a metal. Due to the fact that the electrical circuit is broken by a dielectric, power is supplied only alternating current. The first ozonizer close to modern ones was proposed in 1897 by Siemens.
At low outputs, the ozonizer does not need to be cooled, since the generated heat is carried away with the flow of oxygen and ozone. IN industrial production Ozone is also synthesized in arc ozonizers (plasmatrons), in glow ozone generators (lasers) and surface discharge.
Photochemical method
The main share of ozone produced on Earth in nature is formed photo chemically. In practical human activity, photochemical synthesis methods play a smaller role than barrier discharge synthesis. The main area of their use is obtaining medium and low concentrations of ozone. Such ozone concentrations are required, for example, when testing rubber products for resistance to cracking under the influence of atmospheric ozone. In practice, mercury and excimer xenon lamps are used to produce ozone using this method.
Electrolytic synthesis method
The first mention of ozone formation in electrolytic processes dates back to 1907. However, to this day the mechanism of its formation remains unclear.
Typically, aqueous solutions of perchloric or sulfuric acid are used as an electrolyte; the electrodes are made of platinum. The use of acids labeled O18 has shown that they do not give up their oxygen during the formation of ozone. Therefore, the gross diagram should only take into account the decomposition of water:
H2O + O2 -> O3 + 2H+ + e-
with possible intermediate formation of ions or radicals.
Formation of ozone under the influence of ionizing radiation
Ozone is formed through a series of processes involving excitation of an oxygen molecule either by light or an electric field. When oxygen is irradiated with ionizing radiation, excited molecules can also arise and ozone formation is observed. The formation of ozone under the influence of ionizing radiation has not yet been used for ozone synthesis.
Ozone formation in a microwave field
When a stream of oxygen was passed through a microwave field, ozone formation was observed. This process has been little studied, although generators based on this phenomenon are often used in laboratory practice.
The use of ozone in everyday life and its effect on humans
Ozonation of water, air and other substances
Ozonated water does not contain toxic halogenomethanes - typical impurities of water sterilization with chlorine. The ozonation process is carried out in bubble baths or mixers, in which water purified from suspended matter is mixed with ozonated air or oxygen. The disadvantage of the process is the rapid destruction of O3 in water (half-life 15-30 minutes).
Ozonation is also used in Food Industry for sterilization of refrigerators, warehouses, elimination unpleasant odor; in medical practice - for the disinfection of open wounds and the treatment of certain chronic diseases (trophic ulcers, fungal diseases), ozonation of venous blood, physiological solutions.
Modern ozonizers, in which ozone is produced using an electrical discharge in air or oxygen, consist of ozone generators and power sources and are an integral part of ozonizer installations, which include, in addition to ozonizers, auxiliary devices.
Currently, ozone is a gas used in so-called ozone technologies: purification and preparation of drinking water, wastewater treatment (domestic and industrial wastewater), waste gases, etc.
Depending on the technology for using ozone, the productivity of an ozonizer can range from fractions of a gram to tens of kilograms of ozone per hour. Special ozonizers are used for gas sterilization medical instruments and small equipment. Sterilization is carried out in an artificially humidified ozone-oxygen environment that fills the sterilization chamber. The sterilization cycle consists of the stage of replacing the air in the sterilization chamber with a humidified ozone-oxygen mixture, the stage of sterilization exposure and the stage of replacing the ozone-oxygen mixture in the chamber with microbiologically purified air.
Ozonizers used in medicine for ozone therapy have a wide range of regulation of the concentration of the ozone-oxygen mixture. The guaranteed accuracy of the generated concentration of the ozone-oxygen mixture is controlled by the ozonator automation system and is automatically maintained.
Biological effect of ozone
The biological effect of ozone depends on the method of its application, dose and concentration. Many of its effects in different concentration ranges occur in varying degrees. At the core therapeutic effect Ozone therapy involves the use of ozone-oxygen mixtures. The high redox potential of ozone determines its systemic (restoration of oxygen homeostasis) and local (pronounced disinfectant) therapeutic effect.
For the first time ozone antiseptic was used by A. Wolff in 1915 for the treatment of infected wounds. In recent years, ozone therapy has been successfully used in almost all areas of medicine: emergency and purulent surgery, general and infectious therapy, gynecology, urology, gastroenterology, dermatology, cosmetology, etc. The use of ozone is due to its unique spectrum of effects on the body, incl. immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, antiviral, fungicidal, etc.
However, it cannot be denied that methods of using ozone in medicine, despite obvious advantages in many biological indicators, have not yet been widely used. According to literature data, high concentrations of ozone are absolutely bactericidal for almost all strains of microorganisms. Therefore, ozone is used in clinical practice as a universal antiseptic for the sanitation of infectious and inflammatory foci of various etiologies and localizations.
The literature contains data on the increased effectiveness of antiseptic drugs after their ozonation in the treatment of acute purulent surgical diseases.
Conclusions regarding household use of ozone
First of all, it is necessary to unconditionally confirm the fact of the use of ozone in the practice of healing in many areas of medicine, as a therapeutic and disinfectant, but it is not yet possible to talk about its widespread use.
Ozone is perceived by humans with the least side effects allergic manifestations. And even if in the literature one can find references to individual intolerance to O3, these cases cannot in any way be compared, for example, with chlorine-containing and other halogen-derived antibacterial drugs.
Ozone is triatomic oxygen and is the most environmentally friendly. Who doesn’t know its “fresh” smell – on hot summer days after a thunderstorm?! Any living organism experiences its constant presence in the earth's atmosphere.
The review is compiled based on materials from the Internet.
Have you ever noticed how pleasant it is to breathe after rain? This refreshing air provides ozone in the atmosphere, which appears after rain. What is this substance, what are its functions, formula, and is it really useful for the human body? Let's figure it out.
What is ozone?
To everyone who studied at high school, it is known that the oxygen molecule consists of two atoms chemical element oxygen. However, this element is capable of forming another chemical compound - ozone. This name is given to a substance that is usually found in the form of a gas (although it can exist in all three states of aggregation).
The molecule of this substance is quite similar to oxygen (O 2), but it consists not of two, but of three atoms - O 3.
History of the discovery of ozone
The man who first synthesized ozone was the Dutch physicist Martin Van Marum.
It was he who, in 1785, conducted an experiment by passing an electric discharge through the air. The resulting gas not only acquired a specific odor, but also a bluish tint. In addition, the new substance turned out to be a stronger oxidizing agent than ordinary oxygen. So, having examined its effect on mercury, Van Marum discovered that the metal slightly changed its physical properties, which did not happen to him under the influence of oxygen.
Despite his discovery, the Dutch physicist did not believe that ozone was a special substance. Only 50 years after Van Marum’s discovery, the German scientist Christian Friedrich Schönbein became seriously interested in ozone. It was thanks to him that this substance received its name - ozone (in honor of the Greek word meaning “to smell”), and was also more closely studied and described.
Ozone: physical properties
This substance has a number of properties. The first of these is the ability of ozone, like water, to exist in three states of aggregation.
The normal state in which ozone exists is a bluish gas (it is what colors the skies azure) with a noticeable metallic aroma. The density of such gas is 2.1445 g/dm³.
As the temperature decreases, ozone molecules form a blue-violet liquid with a density of 1.59 g/cm³ (at a temperature of -188 °C). Liquid O 3 boils at -111.8 °C.
While in a solid state, ozone darkens, becoming almost black with a distinct violet-blue tint. Its density is 1.73 g/cm 3 (at −195.7 °C). The temperature at which solid ozone begins to melt is −197.2 °C.
The molecular weight of O 3 is 48 daltons.
At a temperature of 0 °C, ozone dissolves perfectly in water, ten times faster than oxygen. The presence of impurities in water can further speed up this reaction.
In addition to water, ozone dissolves in freon, which facilitates its transportation.
Among other substances in which O3 is easy to dissolve (in a liquid aggregate state) are argon, nitrogen, fluorine, methane, carbon dioxide, and carbon tetrachloride.
It also mixes well with liquid oxygen (at temperatures from 93 K).
Chemical properties of ozone
The O3 molecule is quite unstable. For this reason in in good condition it exists for 10-40 minutes, after which it decomposes, producing a small amount of heat and oxygen O 2. This reaction can occur much faster if the catalysts are an increase in ambient temperature or a decrease in atmospheric pressure. Ozone decomposition is also facilitated by its contact with metals (except gold, platinum and iridium), oxides or substances of organic origin.
Interaction with nitric acid stops the decomposition of O 3. This is also facilitated by storing the substance at a temperature of −78 °C.
The main chemical property of ozone is its oxidizability. One of the oxidation products is always oxygen.
Under different conditions, O 3 is able to interact with almost all substances and chemical elements, reducing their toxicity by turning them into less dangerous ones. For example, cyanides are oxidized to cyanates, which are much safer for biological organisms.
How do they get it?
Most often, to obtain O3, oxygen is exposed to electric current. To separate the resulting mixture of oxygen and ozone, they use the property of the latter to liquefy better than O2.
In chemical laboratories, O3 is sometimes produced by reacting a cooled sulfuric acid concentrate with barium peroxide.
In medical institutions that use O3 to improve the health of patients, this substance is obtained by irradiating O2 with ultraviolet light (by the way, this substance is formed in the same way in the Earth’s atmosphere under the influence of sun rays).
Use of O3 in medicine and industry
The simple structure of ozone and the availability of the starting material for its extraction contribute to the active use of this substance in industry.
Being a strong oxidizing agent, it can disinfect much better than chlorine, formaldehyde or ethylene oxide, while being less toxic. Therefore, O 3 is often used to sterilize medical instruments, equipment, uniforms, and many drugs.
In industry, this substance is most often used for purification or extraction of many chemicals.
Another area of use is the bleaching of paper, fabrics, and mineral oils.
In the chemical industry, O 3 not only helps to sterilize equipment, instruments and containers, but is also used to disinfect the products themselves (eggs, grain, meat, milk) and increase their shelf life. In fact, it is considered one of the best food preservatives because it is non-toxic and non-carcinogenic, and is also excellent at killing mold spores and other fungi and bacteria.
In bakeries, ozone is used to speed up the fermentation process of yeast.
Also, with the help of O 3, cognacs are artificially aged and fatty oils are refined.
How does ozone affect the human body?
Because of this similarity to oxygen, there is a misconception that ozone is a substance beneficial to the human body. However, this is not true, since O3 is one of the strongest oxidizing agents that can destroy the lungs and kill anyone who inhales this gas excessively. It is not for nothing that state environmental organizations in every country strictly monitor the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere.
If ozone is so harmful, then why does it always become easier to breathe after rain?
The fact is that one of the properties of O 3 is its ability to kill bacteria and purify substances from harmful impurities. When it rains due to a thunderstorm, ozone begins to form. This gas affects toxic substances contained in the air, breaking them down, and purifies oxygen from these impurities. It is for this reason that the air after rain is so fresh and pleasant, and the sky takes on a beautiful azure color.
These chemical properties of ozone, which allow it to purify the air, have recently been actively used to treat people suffering from various respiratory diseases, as well as to purify air, water, and various cosmetic procedures.
Quite actively advertised today household ozonizers, purifying the air in the house using this gas. Although this technique seems to be very effective, scientists have not yet studied the effects large quantity air purified by ozone on the body. For this reason, you should not get too carried away with ozonation.
1. What do we know about OZONE?
Ozone (from the Greek ozon - smelling) - gas blue color with a pungent odor, strong oxidizing agent. Ozone is an allotrope of oxygen. Molecular formula O3. 2.5 times heavier than oxygen. Used to disinfect water, food and air.
Technologies
Based on corona ozone technology, Green World multifunctional anion ozonizer has been developed, which uses ozone for disinfection and sterilization.
Characteristics of the chemical element ozone
Ozone, whose scientific name is O3, is obtained by combining three oxygen atoms. It has high oxidizing functions, which are effective in disinfection and sterilization. It is capable of destroying most bacteria in water and air. It is considered an effective disinfectant and antiseptic. Ozone is an important component atmosphere. Our atmosphere contains 0.01ppm-0.04ppm of ozone, which balances the level of bacteria in nature. Ozone is also produced naturally by lightning strikes during thunderstorms. During an electrical discharge of lightning, a pleasant sweet smell appears, which we call fresh air.
Ozone molecules are unstable and very quickly break down into oxygen molecules. This quality makes ozone a valuable gas and water purifier. Ozone molecules combine with molecules of other substances and disintegrate, eventually oxidizing organic compounds, turning them into harmless carbon dioxide and water. Because ozone easily breaks down into oxygen molecules, it is significantly less toxic than other disinfectants such as chlorine. It is also called “the purest oxidizer and disinfectant.”
Properties of ozone - kills microorganisms
1. kills bacteria
a) kills most coli bacteria and staphylococci in the air
b) kills 99.7% of coli bacteria and 99.9% of staphylococci on the surface of objects
c) kills 100% of coli bacteria, staphylococci and salmonella group microbes in phosphate compounds
d) kills 100% of coli bacteria in water
2. destroys bacterial spores
a) destroys brevibacteiumspores
b) the ability to destroy bacteria in the air
c) kills 99.999% of brevibacteiumspores in water
3. destroys viruses
a) destroys 99.99% HBsAg and 100% HAAg
b) destroys the influenza virus in the air
c) destroys PVI and Heppatitis A virus in water within a few seconds or minutes
d) destroys the SA-11 virus in water
e) when the concentration of ozone in the blood serum reaches 4 mg/l, it is capable of destroying HIV in 106cd50/ml
a) kills 100% aspergillusversicolor and penicillium
b) kills 100% of aspergillusniger, fusariumoxysporumf.sp.melonogea and fusariumoxysporumf.sp. lycopersici
c) kills aspergillus niger and candida bacteria
2. How is ozone formed in nature?
It is formed from molecular oxygen (O2) during an electrical discharge or under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. This is especially noticeable in places rich in oxygen: in a forest, in a coastal area or near a waterfall. When exposed to sunlight, oxygen in a drop of water is converted into ozone. You can also smell ozone after a thunderstorm, when it is formed by an electrical discharge.
3. Why does the air seem cleaner after a thunderstorm?
Ozone oxidizes organic impurities and disinfects the air, giving a pleasant freshness (the smell of a thunderstorm). The characteristic smell of ozone appears at concentrations of 10-7%.
4. What is the ozonosphere? What is its impact on life on the planet?
The bulk of ozone in the atmosphere is located at an altitude of 10 to 50 km with a maximum concentration at an altitude of 20-25 km, forming a layer called the ozonosphere.
The ozonosphere reflects hard ultraviolet radiation and protects living organisms from the harmful effects of radiation. It was thanks to the formation of ozone from atmospheric oxygen that life on land became possible.
5. When was ozone discovered and what is the history of its use?
Ozone was first described in 1785. Dutch physicist Mac Van Marum.
In 1832 prof. From the University of Basel, Schonbein published the book “Production of Ozone by Chemical Methods.” He gave it the name “ozone” from the Greek “smelling”.
In 1857 Werner von Siemens designed the first technical installation for drinking water purification. Since then, ozonation has made it possible to obtain hygienically clean water.
By 1977 There are more than 1,000 drinking water ozonation installations worldwide. Currently, 95% of drinking water in Europe is treated with ozone. Ozonation has become widespread in Canada and the USA. There are several large stations in Russia that are used for the purification of drinking water, the preparation of water from swimming pools, and the deep treatment of wastewater in the recycling water supply of car washes.
Ozone was first used as an antiseptic during the First World War.
Since 1935 began to use rectally administered ozone-oxygen mixture to treat various intestinal diseases (proctitis, hemorrhoids, ulcerative colitis, fistulas, suppression of pathogenic microorganisms, restoration of intestinal flora).
Studying the effect of ozone has made it possible to use it in surgical practice for infectious lesions, treatment of tuberculosis, pneumonia, hepatitis, herpes infection, anemia, etc.
In Moscow in 1992 under the leadership of the Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Medical Sciences. Zmyzgova A..V. The Scientific and Practical Center for Ozone Therapy was created, where ozone is used to treat a wide range of diseases. The development of effective non-damaging methods using ozone continues. Today ozone is considered popular and effective means disinfection of water, air and food purification. Oxygen-ozone mixtures are also used in the treatment of various diseases, cosmetology and many areas of economics.
6. Can you breathe ozone? Is ozone a harmful gas?
Indeed, breathing high concentrations of ozone is dangerous; it can burn the mucous membrane of the respiratory organs.
Ozone is a strong oxidizing agent. Here lie its positive and harmful properties. It all depends on the concentration, i.e. on the percentage of ozone content in the air. Its effect is like fire... In small quantities it supports and heals, in large quantities it can destroy.
7. In what cases are low and high concentrations of ozone used?
Relatively high concentrations are used for disinfection, while lower concentrations of ozone do not damage protein structures and promote healing.
8. What is the effect of ozone on viruses?
Ozone suppresses (inactivates) the virus both outside and inside the cell, partially destroying its shell. The process of its reproduction stops and the ability of viruses to connect with the cells of the body is disrupted.
9. How does the bactericidal property of ozone manifest itself when exposed to microorganisms?
When microorganisms, including yeast, are exposed to ozone, their cell membrane is locally damaged, which leads to their death or inability to reproduce. An increase in the sensitivity of microorganisms to antibiotics was noted.
Experiments have shown that ozone gas kills almost all types of bacteria, viruses, mold and yeast-like fungi and protozoa. Ozone in concentrations from 1 to 5 mg/l leads to the death of 99.9% of Escherichia coli, streptococci, mucobacteria, phylococci, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus, Klebsiella, etc. within 4-20 minutes.
10. How does ozone act in inanimate nature?
Ozone reacts with most organic and inorganic substances. During the reactions, oxygen, water, carbon oxides and higher oxides of other elements are formed. All these products are non-polluting environment and do not lead to the formation of carcinogenic substances, unlike chlorine and fluorine compounds.
11. Can compounds formed in residential premises during air ozonation be dangerous?
Ozone concentrations created by a household ozonizer lead to the formation of harmless compounds in residential areas. As a result of ozonation of the room, the oxygen content in the air increases and the cleaning of viruses and bacteria occurs.
12. What compounds are formed as a result of ozonation of indoor air?
Most of the compounds around us react with ozone, resulting in the formation of harmless compounds.
Most of them break down into carbon dioxide, water and free oxygen. In some cases, inactive (harmless) compounds (oxides) are formed. There are also so-called non-reagent substances - oxides of titanium, silicon, calcium, etc. They do not react with ozone.
13. Is it necessary to ozonate the air in air-conditioned rooms?
After the air passes through the air conditioners and heating devices the oxygen content in the air decreases and the level of toxic air components does not decrease. In addition, old air conditioners themselves are a source of pollution and infection. "Closed Room Syndrome" - headache, fatigue, frequent respiratory diseases. Ozonation of such premises is simply necessary.
14. Can the air conditioner be disinfected?
Yes, you can.
15. Is the use of air ozonation effective to eliminate odors from smoky rooms and rooms after renovation (smells of paint, varnish)?
Yes, it's effective. The treatment should be carried out several times, combined with wet cleaning.
16. What concentrations of ozone are harmful to bacteria and fungi in home air?
A concentration of 50 ozone particles per 100,000,000 air particles significantly reduces air pollution. The effect is particularly strong on Escherichia coli, salmonella, staphylococcus, candida, and aspergillus.
17. Have studies been conducted on the effects of ozonated air on people?
In particular, an experiment is described that was conducted over 5 months with two groups of people - control and test.
The air in the room of the test group was filled with ozone with a concentration of 15 ozone particles per 1000000000 air particles. All subjects noted good health and the disappearance of irritability. Doctors noted an increase in oxygen levels in the blood, a strengthening of the immune system, normalization of blood pressure, and the disappearance of many symptoms of stress.
18. Is ozone harmful to body cells?
Ozone concentrations created by household ozonizers suppress viruses and microorganisms, but do not damage body cells, because Ozone does not damage the skin. Healthy cells of the human body have natural protection against the damaging effects of oxidation (antioxidant). In other words, the action of ozone is selective in relation to living organisms.
This does not preclude the use of precautionary measures. During the ozonation process, staying in the room is undesirable, and after ozonation the room should be ventilated. The ozonizer must be placed in a place inaccessible to children or it must be ensured that it cannot be turned on.
19. What is the productivity of the ozonizer?
In normal mode - 200 mg/hour, in enhanced mode - 400 mg/hour. What is the concentration of ozone in the room as a result of the operation of the ozonator? The concentration depends on the volume of the room, the location of the ozonizer, air humidity and temperature. Ozone is not a stable gas and decomposes quickly, so the concentration of ozone is highly dependent on time. Approximate data 0.01 - 0.04 Ррm.
20. What concentrations of ozone in the air are considered limiting?
Ozone concentrations in the range of 0.5 - 2.5 РРm (0.0001 mg/l) are considered safe.
21. What is water ozonation used for?
Ozone is used to disinfect, remove impurities, odor and color of water.
1. Unlike chlorination and fluoridation of water, during ozonation nothing foreign is introduced into the water (ozone quickly disintegrates). Wherein mineral composition and pH remain unchanged.
2. Ozone has the greatest disinfecting properties against pathogens.
3. Organic substances in water are destroyed, thereby preventing the further development of microorganisms.
4. Most chemicals are destroyed without the formation of harmful compounds. These include pesticides, herbicides, petroleum products, detergents, sulfur and chlorine compounds, which are carcinogens.
5. Metals, including iron, manganese, aluminum, etc., are oxidized to inactive compounds. The oxides precipitate and are easily filtered.
6. Quickly breaking down, ozone turns into oxygen, improving the taste and healing properties of water.
23. What is the acidity of water that has undergone ozonation?
Water has a slightly alkaline reaction pH = 7.5 - 9.0. This water is recommended for drinking.
24. How much does the oxygen content in water increase after ozonation?
The oxygen content in water increases 12 times.
25. How quickly does ozone decay in air and water?
In the air after 10 minutes. The ozone concentration is reduced by half, forming oxygen and water.
In water after 20-30 minutes. Ozone breaks down into half, forming a hydroxyl group and water.
26. How does heating water affect the oxygen content in it?
The oxygen content in water decreases after heating.
27. What determines the concentration of ozone in water?
Ozone concentration depends on impurities, temperature, acidity of water, material and geometry of the container.
28. Why is the O 3 molecule used and not O 2 ?
Ozone is approximately 10 times more soluble in water than oxygen and is well preserved. The lower the water temperature, the longer the storage time.
29. Why is it beneficial to drink oxygenated water?
The use of ozone increases the consumption of glucose by tissues and organs, increases the saturation of blood plasma with oxygen, reduces the degree of oxygen starvation, and improves microcirculation.
Ozone has a positive effect on liver and kidney metabolism. Supports the functioning of the heart muscle. Reduces breathing rate and increases tidal volume.
30. What is a household ozonizer intended for?
A household ozonizer can be used for:
disinfection and deodorization of air in residential premises, bathrooms and toilet rooms, change houses, cabinets, refrigerators, etc.;
processing food products(meat, fish, eggs, vegetables and fruits);
improving water quality (disinfection, oxygen enrichment, elimination of chlorine and other harmful impurities);
home cosmetology (elimination of dandruff, acne, gargling, brushing teeth, eliminating fungal diseases, preparing ozonated oil);
care for pets and fish;
glaze indoor plants and seed treatment;
whitening and adding color to linen;
shoe processing.
31. What is the effect of using ozone in medical practice?
Ozone has an antibacterial and antiviral effect (inactivation of viruses and destruction of spores).
Ozone activates and normalizes a number of biochemical processes.
The effect obtained from ozone therapy is characterized by:
activation of detoxification processes, suppression occurs
activity of external and internal toxins;
activation of metabolic processes (metabolic processes);
increased microcirculation (blood supply
improving the rheological properties of blood (blood becomes mobile);
has a pronounced analgesic effect.
32. How does ozone affect human immunity?
Cellular and humoral immunity increases. Phagocytosis is activated, the synthesis of interferons and other nonspecific systems of the body is enhanced.
33. How does ozonation affect metabolic processes?
The use of ozone increases the consumption of glucose by tissues and organs, increases the saturation of blood plasma with oxygen, reduces the degree of oxygen starvation, and improves microcirculation. Ozone has a positive effect on liver and kidney metabolism. Supports the functioning of the heart muscle. Reduces breathing rate and increases tidal volume.
34. Ozone is formed during welding work and during the operation of a photocopier. Is this ozone harmful?
Yes, it is harmful, since it creates dangerous impurities. The ozone produced by the ozonizer is pure and therefore harmless.
35. Is there a difference between industrial, medical and household ozonizers?
Industrial ozonizers produce a high concentration of ozone, which is dangerous for home use.
Medical and household ozonizers are similar in performance indicators, but medical ones are designed for longer continuous operation.
36. What are comparative characteristics disinfection when using ultraviolet units and ozonizers?
Ozone, in its properties of destroying bacteria and viruses, is 2.5 - 6 times more effective than ultraviolet rays and 300 - 600 times more effective than chlorine. Moreover, unlike chlorine, ozone even destroys cysts of worms and herpes and tuberculosis viruses.
Ozone removes organic and chemical substances from water, decomposing them to water, carbon dioxide, forming a precipitate of inactive elements.
Ozone easily oxidizes iron and manganese salts, forming insoluble substances that are eliminated by settling or filtration. As a result, ozonated water is safe, clear and tastes good.
37. Is it possible to disinfect dishes using ozone?
Yes! It is good to disinfect children's dishes, canning dishes, etc. To do this, place the dishes in a container of water, lower the air duct with the divider. Process for 10-15 minutes.
38. What materials should utensils for ozonation be made of?
Glass, ceramic, wood, plastic, enameled (no chips or cracks). Do not use metal utensils, including aluminum and copper utensils. Rubber does not withstand contact with ozone.
An anion ozonizer from the American corporation Green World will help you not only maintain, but also significantly improve your health. You have the opportunity to use an indispensable device in your home - an anion ozonizer, which combines all the qualities and functionality of both an air ionizer and an ozonizer (multifunctional...
The ozonizer for the car is equipped with lighting and flavoring. The ozonation and ionization modes can be turned on at the same time. These modes can also be enabled separately. This ozonizer is indispensable during long trips, when driver fatigue increases, vision and memory deteriorate. The ozonator relieves drowsiness, giving vigor due to the influx of...
Introduction
Ozone is a simple substance, an allotropic modification of oxygen. Unlike oxygen, the ozone molecule consists of three atoms. Under ordinary conditions, it is a sharp-smelling explosive gas, blue in color, and possessing strong oxidizing properties.
Ozone is a permanent component of the earth's atmosphere. vital role to maintain life on it. In the surface layers of the earth's atmosphere, the concentration of ozone increases sharply. General state Ozone levels in the atmosphere are variable and fluctuate depending on the seasons. Atmospheric ozone plays a key role in supporting life on earth. It protects the Earth from the harmful effects of a certain role of solar radiation, thereby helping to preserve life on the planet.
Thus, it is necessary to find out what effects ozone can have on biological tissues.
General properties ozone
Ozone is an allotropic modification of oxygen consisting of triatomic O 3 molecules. Its molecule is diamagnetic and has an angular shape. The bond in the molecule is delocalized, three-centered.
Rice. 1 The structure of ozone
Both O-O bonds in the ozone molecule have the same length of 1.272 Angstroms. The angle between the bonds is 116.78°. Central oxygen atom sp²-hybridized, has one lone pair of electrons. The molecule is polar, dipole moment 0.5337 D.
Character chemical bonds in ozone determines its instability (after a certain time, ozone spontaneously transforms into oxygen: 2O3 -> 3O2) and high oxidizing ability (ozone is capable of a number of reactions in which molecular oxygen does not enter). The oxidative effect of ozone on organic substances is associated with the formation of radicals: RH+ O3 RО2 +OH
These radicals initiate radical chain reactions with bioorganic molecules (lipids, proteins, nucleic acids), which leads to cell death. The use of ozone to sterilize drinking water is based on its ability to kill microbes. Ozone is also important for higher organisms. Prolonged exposure to an atmosphere containing ozone (for example, in physical therapy rooms and quartz irradiation) can cause severe damage nervous system. Therefore, ozone in large doses is a toxic gas. Maximum permissible concentration in the air working area– 0.0001 mg/liter. Ozone pollution of the air occurs during ozonation of water, due to its low solubility.
History of discovery.
Ozone was first discovered in 1785 by the Dutch physicist M. van Marum due to the characteristic odor and oxidizing properties that air acquires after electric sparks are passed through it, as well as its ability to act on mercury at ordinary temperatures, as a result of which it loses its luster and begins to stick to glass . However, it was not described as a new substance; van Marum believed that a special “electric matter” was being formed.
Term ozone was proposed by the German chemist H. F. Schönbein in 1840 for its odorant, entered into dictionaries in late XIX century. Many sources give priority to the discovery of ozone in 1839. In 1840, Schönbein demonstrated the ability of ozone to displace iodine from potassium iodide:
The fact that the volume of gas decreases when oxygen is converted into ozone was experimentally proven by Andrews and Tat using a glass tube with a pressure gauge filled with pure oxygen, with platinum wires soldered into it to produce an electrical discharge.
Physical properties.
Ozone is a blue gas that can be seen when viewed through a significant layer, up to 1 meter thick, of ozonized oxygen. In the solid state, ozone is black in color with a violet tint. Liquid ozone has a deep blue color; transparent in a layer not exceeding 2 mm. thickness; quite durable.
Properties:
§ Molecular weight - 48 a.m.u.
§ Gas density under normal conditions is 2.1445 g/dm³. Relative gas density for oxygen 1.5; by air - 1.62
§ Liquid density at −183 °C - 1.71 g/cm³
§ Boiling point - −111.9 °C. (for liquid ozone - 106 °C.)
§ Melting point - −197.2 ± 0.2 °C (the melting point usually given as −251.4 °C is erroneous, since its determination did not take into account the greater ability of ozone to supercool).
§ Solubility in water at 0 °C is 0.394 kg/m³ (0.494 l/kg), it is 10 times higher than oxygen.
§ In the gaseous state, ozone is diamagnetic, in the liquid state it is weakly paramagnetic.
§ The smell is sharp, specific “metallic” (according to Mendeleev - “the smell of crayfish”). At high concentrations it smells like chlorine. The smell is noticeable even when diluted 1: 100,000.
Chemical properties.
Chemical properties ozone is determined by its great ability to oxidation.
The O 3 molecule is unstable and, at sufficient concentrations in the air under normal conditions, spontaneously turns into O 2 in a few tens of minutes with the release of heat. Increasing temperature and decreasing pressure increase the rate of transition to the diatomic state. At high concentrations the transition can be explosive.
Properties:
§ Oxidation of metals
§ Oxidation of non-metals
§ Interaction with oxides
§ Combustion
§ Formation of ozonides
Methods for producing ozone
Ozone is formed in many processes accompanied by the release of atomic oxygen, for example, during the decomposition of peroxides, oxidation of phosphorus, etc. In industry, it is obtained from air or oxygen in ozonizers by the action of an electric discharge. O3 liquefies more easily than O2, and therefore it is easy to separate them. Ozone for ozone therapy in medicine is obtained only from pure oxygen. When air is irradiated with hard ultraviolet radiation ozone is formed. The same process occurs in upper layers atmosphere where the ozone layer is formed and maintained by solar radiation.