How is ozone produced? a. one molecule of oxygen is split into two atoms. b. two molecules of oxygen are split simultaneously into four atoms. c. one atom of oxygen collides with one molecule of oxygen. d. two atoms of oxygen combine to form one oxygen molecule.

First: A. One molecule of oxygen is split into two atoms.

Second: C. One atom of oxygen collides with one molecule of oxygen.

Explanation:

Ozone (O3) is a molecule composed of three chemically bonded oxygen atoms, unlike oxygen, which contains 2 atoms. It may seem that, as they are composed of the same atoms, oxygen and ozone are alike, but the truth is that they are very different.

The O2 has no smell or color, The O3 instead has a blue color, a very intense smell and is even harmful to health. Unless it is in the stratosphere, it is essential for life on Earth. In addition to this, the O3 is much scarcer.

O3 is produced by a photochemical reaction

First:

02 + hv --> O + O (λ = 242.4 nm)

where hv is a photon of absorbed energy light

Second:

02 + 0 + M --> 03 + M