ozone

Definitions

noun a poisonous form of oxygen found naturally in the atmosphere which is toxic to humans at concentrations above 0.1 parts per million

noun a strong oxidizing agent (often produced by sparking from electrical apparatus, such as arc welding equipment); particularly harmful to tyres

Triatomic oxygen (O3), an unstable form of oxygen that is produced by ultraviolet activity and electrical discharges and is used as an oxidizing agent, a deodorizer in air-conditioning and cold storage systems, and as an agent for stemming the growth of bacteria, fungus, and mildew. Excessive concentrations of ozone are poisonous to humans.

A poisonous and highly reactive blue gas whose chemical formula is O₃, making it an allotropic form of oxygen. It may be formed, for instance, when oxygen is exposed to electrical discharges, or in certain photochemical reactions. Ozone has a characteristic odor, which is sometimes detected near a lightning stroke, and although it is toxic, a layer of ozone in the atmosphere helps shields living organisms from excessive ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

noun a gas present in the atmosphere in small quantities, which is harmful at high levels of concentration

noun a harmful gas formed by the reaction of industrial pollutants with sunlight, especially in large cites, that can damage bodily tissues and reduce a person’s VO2Max over time

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