What does it mean when a UV light bulb creates ozone?
In: Physics
It means that it creates ozone. UV light of certain wavelength has enough energy to break the molecular bond between two oxygen atoms in molecular oxygen (O2) present in the air. Now you have some O- atoms flying around and they attach themselves to other O2 molecules and create O3, known as ozone, at least temporarily so.
UV light splits normal oxygen molecules (O2) into two seperate atoms of oxygen (atomic O). The free O atoms can combine with another O2 in the air to form ozone (O3). This [diagram of reaction](http://www.theozonehole.com/images/ozone.37.jpg) shows the sun as the UV source, but you can imagine a lamp. Though keep in mind most everyday UV lamps don’t output the kind of wavelengths that would make ozone.
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