A natural part of our environment
Ozone Information: Ozone (O3) is a colorless gas with a distinct, pungent odor. It is a molecule made up of 3 atoms of oxygen. Interestingly ozone occurs quite readily in nature, most often as a result of lightning strikes that occur during thunderstorms. In fact that "fresh, clean, spring rain " smell that we notice after a storm most often results from natures creation of ozone. As one of the most powerful sterilant in the world its function is to destroy bacteria, viruses and odors. Once generated, ozone is quite unstable, one of the three oxygen atoms eagerly splits off the molecule and attaches itself to any particle or pollutant with which it comes in contact. That single oxygen atom proceeds to "oxidize" that particle. This means it burns the particle, which changes its physical properties. As a result, the particle will no longer be toxic, and will no longer be able to reproduce if it is biological. In other words, the particle becomes completely harmless. When the single oxygen (O1) molecule oxidizes the particle, it too is destroyed. This leaves behind the O2 it split away from, or pure and clean oxygen. 736
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