Name ________________________________________Block __________ Date ____________
Ozone Investigation
http://www.oar.noaa.gov/k12/html/ozone2.html
Ozone is similar to oxygen that we breathe. Air contains oxygen molecules which are made up of two
oxygen atoms combined together (O2).
Ozone is a molecule made of three oxygen atoms combined together (O3). Ozone is everywhere in our
atmosphere - but in different amounts. High in the atmosphere, above where most airplanes fly, is the
ozone layer. That's where most of the ozone is. Up there, it acts as a kind of "sunscreen", absorbing UV
light and protecting life below from excessive amount of UV that could be harmful.
Down low in the atmosphere, where we live, there's much less ozone. but still, there can be too much of
it at ground-level, and it can cause problems for us humans by affecting our health.
Start the activity to learn more about ozone's effects. Click on Get Info
A. Location of Ozone: Click on Atmospheric Ozone
1. Where is the ozone layer?
Go Back B. Ozone Loss: Click on Ozone Loss
1. What does CFC stand for?
2. What were CFCs used for?
3. What are three chemical properties of CFCs?
4. What specific atom of the CFC molecule damages ozone?
Go back and then click back, Open up Gather Information on the side.
A. Ozone Eaters
Click on Twenty questions
1. How is ozone distributed in the atmosphere?
2. What is the "ozone hole?"
3. Besides CFCs, what other molecules destroy ozone?
Go Back
B. Proof of Damage click on Evidence
1. As the concentration of chlorine rises, what happens to the concentration of ozone?
Go back
C. Natural vs. Artificial
1. Since nature makes compounds that have chlorine in them, why haven't we had an ozone hole before
now? What is it about some human-made chlorine compounds that makes them harmful to the ozone
layer?
2. What percent of the chlorine in the stratosphere comes exclusively from human sources?
Forward
D. Total Ozone Loss click on October Ozone Hole
1. Compute the percentage of 1993 ozone in Antarctica compared to the amount of ozone that was above
Antarctica during the 1950s in October.
Click back
E. Sunburn Effects
Click on Ultraviolet site
1. From the graph, if the concentration of ozone decreases 30%, how much additional UV radiation gets to
the surface of the earth?
Click back
F. Future Outlook Click on Ozone Recovery
1. What is expected to happen to the ozone layer during your lifetime?
Click back
G. Unusual Suspect
Click on Rural Ozone
1. What problems are associated with ozone at ground level?
2. How are we producing ozone at ground level?
3. How can we decrease the ozone concentrations at ground level?
4. What changes in our lives can we make to reduce ozone concentrations at ground level?
Click back and then return
Now Click on Application
A. Economic Problems click on Health
1. A decrease in ozone causes the Earth's surface to receive an increase in ultraviolet rays. Because of this
decrease in ozone and the increase in ultraviolet rays, describe the economic effects on people. Include
medical problems in humans, crops, and livestock, etc
Click back
B. Ozone Formation click on Ozone Sheild
1. Recall that oxygen we can breathe exists as a molecule of two oxygen atoms bound together (O2). Draw
how six oxygen atoms can turn into two ozone molecules. Include all three steps and show everything
necessary for the reaction to occur.