Let’s learn a little about ozone and what it is.
Ozone (O3) is a relatively unstable pale blue gas composed of three oxygen atoms. It is both a natural and a man-made product that occurs in the Earth’s upper atmosphere (the stratosphere) and lower atmosphere (the troposphere). It protects the surface from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays unless dissipated by natural or human phenomena. Depending on where it is in the atmosphere, ozone affects life on Earth in either good or bad ways. Although it represents only a small fraction of the atmosphere, ozone is crucial for life on Earth. It is considered a pollutant with adverse effects for humans and other creatures when present closer to the ground.
Ozone has a distinctive and sharp odor reminiscent of chlorine, and can sometimes be smelled after a thunderstorm, when lightning zaps oxygen molecules apart. This is what gives ozone its name – named after the Greek word “ozein”, meaning “to smell.”