Oxygen vs. Ozone — What's the Difference?

A diatomic molecule that is essential for most life forms.

A triatomic molecule known for its role in the ozone layer.

Colorless, tasteless, and odorless, making up 21% of the Earth's atmosphere.

Absorbs the majority of the sun's harmful UV radiation.

Acts as an oxidizer and is necessary for burning.

Has a distinct sharp smell and a pale blue color.

Utilized in various processes like metal cutting and welding.

At ground level, it is a harmful component of smog.

Critical for the survival of aerobic organisms.

Used in water treatment and as a bleaching agent.

Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal, and an oxidizing agent that readily forms oxides with most elements as well as with other compounds.

Ozone (), or trioxygen, is an inorganic molecule with the chemical formula O3. It is a pale blue gas with a distinctively pungent smell.

A colourless, odourless reactive gas, the chemical element of atomic number 8 and the life-supporting component of the air.

An unstable, poisonous allotrope of oxygen, O3, that is formed naturally in the ozone layer from atmospheric oxygen by electric discharge or exposure to ultraviolet radiation, also produced in the lower atmosphere by the photochemical reaction of certain pollutants. It is a highly reactive oxidizing agent used to deodorize air, purify water, and treat industrial wastes.

A nonmetallic element constituting 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume that occurs as a diatomic gas, O2, and in many compounds such as water and silica, and in iron ore. It combines with most elements, is essential for plant and animal respiration, and is required for nearly all combustion. Ozone, O3, is an allotrope of this element. Atomic number 8; atomic weight 15.9994; melting point -218.79°C; boiling point -182.9°C; gas density at 0°C 1.429 grams per liter; valence 2. See Periodic Table.

(Informal) Fresh, pure air.

The chemical element (symbol O) with an atomic number of 8 and relative atomic mass of 15.9994. It is a colorless and odorless gas. Category:en:Oxygen

(inorganic chemistry) An allotrope of oxygen (symbol O₃) having three atoms in the molecule instead of the usual two; it is a toxic gas, generated from oxygen by electrical discharge.

Molecular oxygen (O₂), a colorless, odorless gas at room temperature, also called dioxygen.

Fresh air, especially that breathed at the seaside and smelling of seaweed.

(medicine) A mixture of oxygen and other gases, administered to a patient to help them breathe.

(transitive) To treat with ozone.

(countable) An atom of this element.

A colorless gaseous substance (O3) obtained (as by the silent discharge of electricity in oxygen) as an allotropic form of oxygen, containing three atoms in the molecule. It is a strong oxidizer, and probably exists in the air, though by the ordinary tests it is liable to be confused with certain other substances, as hydrogen dioxide, or certain oxides of nitrogen. It derives its name from its peculiar odor, which resembles that of weak chlorine.

(figurative) A condition or environment in which something can thrive.

A colorless gas (O3) soluble in alkalis and cold water; a strong oxidizing agent; can be produced by electric discharge in oxygen or by the action of ultraviolet radiation on oxygen in the stratosphere (where it acts as a screen for ultraviolet radiation)

A colorless, tasteless, odorless, gaseous element of atomic number 8, occurring in the free state in the atmosphere, of which it forms about 23 per cent by weight and about 21 per cent by volume, being slightly heavier than nitrogen. Symbol O. Atomic weight 15.9994.

Chlorine used in bleaching.

A nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

Yes, ground-level ozone can cause respiratory issues and is a component of smog.

The ozone layer shields the Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays, reducing the risk of skin cancer and other damage.

Oxygen is a diatomic molecule essential for life, whereas ozone is a triatomic molecule that protects against UV radiation.

Ozone can exist at ground level, often as a result of pollution, and is harmful to living organisms.

Chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) can cause the breakdown of ozone in the stratosphere.

Ozone is used in the bleaching of paper and textiles, and in the treatment of industrial waste.

Oxygen supports combustion but is less reactive than ozone.

Yes, ozone is an effective disinfectant and is used in water purification processes.

Human activities, such as the release of certain chemicals, can deplete stratospheric ozone and increase ground-level ozone.

Ozone in the stratosphere absorbs most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Oxygen is produced by plants and algae through the process of photosynthesis.

Oxygen is crucial for respiration in aerobic organisms and is vital for combustion processes.

Industrial oxygen is typically obtained through the fractional distillation of liquefied air.

Oxygen dissolved in water is crucial for the survival of aquatic life.

Reducing emissions from vehicles and industrial sources can help lower ground-level ozone concentrations.