|
|
|
|
Ozone Answer
Fri Oct 01, 2004
Listen in RealAudio 
Today, we answer our Brainstorm about ozone, why it’s good high up, but bad down
here. But first, a correction: as several of our astute listeners pointed out, I misspoke
when I called ozone an isotope of oxygen. It is actually an "allotrope"—a different
structural form of the same element: in this case, three oxygen atoms instead of the
usual two. An isotope is an atom with a differing number of neutrons. Okay, now it’s
your turn.
JF: My name is Julie Findley. I’m a fifth grade science teacher, and we teach that ozone
is very good for the earth as long as it’s in the upper atmosphere because it helps
deflect ultraviolet rays and helps protect us on Earth. However, ozone is not so good for
our respiratory system when it’s on the ground as a byproduct of car exhaust.
LG: This is Lou Green with Erie County Dept. of Environment and Planning. It’s formed
from cosmic energy breaking down the oxygen molecule into nascent oxygen, which
then combines to form O3, which is ozone.
SR: Hi, My name is Steve Rothman. In concentrations of about … perhaps 1 to a
million…(it) is very toxic to humans. In the upper atmosphere it serves a very important
purpose, because even though it’s up there in very, very tiny concentrations, it’s a very
strong absorber of ultraviolet radiation.
RR: Hi, this is Ryan Rowinsky calling from Mt. Juliet, Tenn. I’m a WPLN, Nashville,
listener. O3 is detrimental to the human body because hemoglobin, the cells that
transport blood throughout the body, has a greater affinity to grab O3 than O2. The extra
oxygen in there binds up and causes problems. It’ll give you a headache, all types of
different things.
We’ll have a new Brainstorm tomorrow. Thanks to Subaru of America for supporting
our show!
Today's Links
Isotope:
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/isotopes/index.html
Allotrope:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allotrope
|
|
