The following list of Ozone Questions & Answers will give you some of the basics. Many of the questions are dealt with more extensively on the page entitled
Ozone 101 - Nature's Best Air Purifier
Q: What is ozone?
A: Ozone is a form of oxygen. It is a strong cleaning, purification and oxidizing agent. It reacts with organics to oxidize unpleasant odors and kill germs. Ozone is O3 or enriched oxygen containing 3 atoms instead of 2.
Q: Just what do you mean by oxidation? Give an example.
A: Inside the body, food molecules combine with O2 to form CO2 and H2O and energy or heat. Oxidation means a substance undergoes a chemical change resulting in a different substance. Fire is an example of oxidation.
Q: How long has ozone been known about?
A: Ozone was discovered in 1840 by a German chemist. It has been used for many years to purify water in Europe. Industrial applications include odor control, sterilization, and many others.
Q: How do you make ozone?
A: Ozone is produced commercially by an electrical process in which a pair of electrodes is separated by air when the electrical potential builds up from a generator. The electron velocity generates an excitation in which oxygen molecules dissociate and form O3 or ozone. This is an arc discharge method. Another way is ultraviolet radiation
Q: Is ozone dangerous?
A: Ozone is a powerful oxidizer, which aggressively attacks organics. Our bodies are organic and ozone cannot differentiate good organics and bad organics. Although there are no documented deaths due to ozone, it should be dealt with caution and common sense. Chlorine and fire are also oxidizers, but we have learned to work safely and control them. Ozone is no different.
Q: Can sports equipment be deodorized using ozone?
A: Ozone is incredible at removing odors typical with used sports equipment (hockey, football, etc). CAUTION: Make sure any elastic components such as straps are covered in plastic (I use saran wrap) as ozone will age the elastic very quickly.
Q: What is ozonosphere?
A: The atmospheric layer extending from a height of 6 miles to 30 miles in which there is an appreciable concentration of ozone (1 to 6ppm) absorbing much ultraviolet radiation and preventing some heat loss from earth.
Q: Isn’t ozone the cause of smog?
A: No. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun creates ozone by splitting off oxygen atoms from the nitrogen oxides emitted by auto exhausts. This is the origin of smog encountered in urban areas.
Q: What is “friendly smog”?
A: Trees emit hydrocarbons called terpenes. These byproducts of photosynthesis combined with sunlight can create enough ozone to produce a forest haze commonly familiar in forests or mountains.
Q: If ozone is considered air pollution, how can we legally discharge the excess ozone we produce?
A: Because if ozone has attached and combined with an odor causing substance, it will revert back to ordinary oxygen. If not, it will last several hours and then convert back to oxygen.
Q: Can we see ozone?
A: Pure ozone, produced naturally, is distinctly blue in color. However, when ozone is generated commercially from the air, a colorless gas is produced.
Q: Is ozone like radiation?
A: No, ozone emits no penetrating rays.
Q: What happens to ozone after it serves its purpose?
A: Ozone’s additional oxygen atom when combined with other substances undergoes a chemical change and reverts back to ordinary oxygen.
Q: I think I have smelled ozone before. Where else might it come from?
A: Electrical lightening storms, electrical equipment such as photocopiers, motors, projection equipment, and welding, etc.
Q: What does ozone smell like?
A: Ozone’s characteristic odor can be smelled immediately after a lightening storm or near photocopiers, printers or electrical motors - all of which generate ozone. Its odor also has been described as the smell of clean bed sheets.
