High concentration of ozone can be dangerously explosive. Explain.

Problems · Problem 7.9

Q. High concentration of ozone can be dangerously explosive. Explain.

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O $_3$ is thermodynamically less stable than O $_2$ ; its decomposition has $\Delta H$ < 0 and $\Delta S$ > 0, hence a large negative $\Delta G$ -- at high concentration this strongly favoured decomposition proceeds fast enough to be explosive.

Step 1. Thermal stability. Ozone is thermodynamically less stable than oxygen and decomposes into O $_2$ :

\mathrm{O_3 \longrightarrow O_2 + O}

Step 2. The decomposition is exothermic and results in the liberation of heat ( $\Delta H$ is -ve) and an increase in entropy ( $\Delta S$ is positive) -- two gas particles form where one existed. …

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Same / Similar Concept — real previous-year questions on the same or a closely similar concept, not this exact question.

CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQ
$Q. Which of the following is formed by the reaction of Hg with ozone ?$
(a) HgO
(b) HgO2
(c) Hg2O
(d) None of these
›Reveal solutionSolution

Ozone oxidises mercury to HgO, causing the classic 'tailing of mercury'.

Ozone is a powerful oxidising agent. It oxidises mercury to mercuric oxide:

2 Hg + 2 O3 -> 2 HgO + 2 O2 (i.e. Hg + O3 -> HgO + O2)

…

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CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
$Q. Ozone layer is depleted by _____.$
(a) NO
(b) NO $_2$
(c) NO $_3$
(d) N $_2$ O $_5$
›Reveal solutionSolution

NO catalytically depletes ozone: $NO+O_3\rightarrow NO_2+O_2$ , then $NO_2+O\rightarrow NO+O_2$ (NO regenerated).

Nitric oxide (NO) reaching the stratosphere (from supersonic aircraft exhaust, or naturally from $N_2O$ ) catalytically destroys ozone in a chain cycle:

$NO + O_3 \longrightarrow NO_2 + O_2$

$NO_2 + O \longrightarrow NO + O_2$

…

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CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 mark
$O_3$
›Reveal solutionSolution

$O_3$ decomposes to release highly reactive nascent oxygen, making it a strong oxidising agent.

Ozone is thermodynamically unstable and readily decomposes: $O_3 \rightarrow O_2 + [O]$ (nascent/atomic oxygen). This nascent oxygen atom is extremely reactive and readily oxidises other substances, accepting electrons easily. Because one of the three oxygen atoms is very loosely bound and is easily given up as nascent oxygen, ozone acts as a powerful oxidising agent, e.g. it oxidises mo …

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Q.High concentration of ozone can be dangerously explosive. Explain.

Concept understanding — Ozone

Q.High concentration of ozone can be dangerously explosive. Explain.

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