Class 10 Science - Chapter Our Environment NCERT Solutions | What is ozone and how does it affect any

Welcome to the NCERT Solutions for Class 10th Science - Chapter Our Environment. This page offers a step-by-step solution to the specific question from Exercise 3, Question 1: what is ozone and how does it affect any ecosystem....
Question 1

What is ozone and how does it affect any ecosystem?

Answer

Ozone is a clear, blue gas layer which is also known as the layer of protection of the environment. Ozone is the form of oxygen and the molecules of ozone contains three oxygen atoms (O3) It is present in the stratosphere which protects the earth from the ultraviolet (UV) radiations that came from the sun. Stratosphere is present at the altitude of 15-50 km above the earth’s surface and at the lower altitude it has thick sheet of ozone known as ozonosphere. The amount of atmospheric ozone is measured by the Dobson Spectrometer. Reaction:-                       O2  +  O    →   O3 (Ozone)

Ozone affects the environment in following ways:-

  • Ozone is very poisonous at the ground level but at the higher altitude it is a layer of protection present in the stratosphere which protects the earth’s surface from the ultraviolet radiations, specially UV- B rays (290- 320 nm). Increase in the amount of UV rays reaches the earth surface when ozone depletion occurs, it can affect the ecosystem like it can cause skin cancer, dimming of the eye sight, herpes and diminishing the functioning of immune system in human beings.

  • It can cause death (mortality) of the young ones of the human beings and the animals.

  • It can cause mutation and blindness of the land animals.

  • All food chains can get disturbed.

The main cause of the ozone depletion is chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs).

Write a Comment: