Ozone

Ozone is a gaseous substance. Van Marum in 1781 predicted their existence when he noticed the smell of the air traversed by electric shock, but was not discovered until 1839 by Christian Schönbein that gave the name of ozone. Its name derives from the Greek ozein = smell. Gas is a blue metallic odor and spicy, dangerous to attack the mucous breathing as easily recognizable. Can be detected during the storms and near high voltage electrical equipment or sparking. This is the case in many electric motors (eg, mixers or toys with small motor) when there are sparks on the contacts of the brushes can produce ozone smell as we approached.

Ozone can condense in this state, is presented as a liquid indigo very unstable. Also, if we can observe is frozen solid as a black-violet. In these two states is a highly explosive substance given its high oxidizing power.

Its natural state is a gas and is in the air near the surface of the Earth in very small quantities, in an approximate ratio of 20 parts per billion (ppb) and in summer can reach up to the 100 ppb .

Although ozone was studied by Marignac, Becquerel and Fremi, its structure was not determined until 1863 when J. L. Soret showed that it was an allotrope of oxygen (O3). Its molecule consists of three oxygen atoms with an angular geometry. From here derives its scientific name: trioxigen.

The most important applications derived from its high oxidizing power.
- One of its main uses is as a disinfectant and deodorant drinking water because of its high bactericidal power. This is a much stronger disinfectant than chlorine traditionally used to disinfect water, but more difficult to use. It acts on a greater number of microorganisms than chlorine. This use is not dangerous for the environment because it contributes to increased levels of tropospheric ozone.
- Also used as bleaching agent for waxes, oils and textiles and to age the wine and wood

Basic properties:
Properties Value
chemical formula O3
molecular weight 47.9982 g/mol
phase gas (at STP)
melting point -192.2 °C
boiling point -111.9 °C
density 0.001962 g/cm3 (at 25 °C)
dielectric constant 1.0017

Gas properties:
Properties Value
density 0.001962 g/cm3 (at 25 °C)
vapor density 1.65 (relative to air)
molar volume 24460 cm3/mol