Lower Atmosphere

Basics

Unit 3
Ozone and nitrogen oxides as key compounds

Most chemical processes which occur in the atmosphere are oxidation processes. The key chemical compounds involved are the hydroxyl radical (OH), ozone (O₃) and the nitrogen oxides (NO + NO₂ = NOx). 

In  this unit we look at the formation and main characteristics of these compounds.  We look particularly at the role of ozone which is essential in the stratosphere but harmful in the troposphere.

About this page:

author: Dr. Elmar Uherek - Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
scientific reviewer: Dr. Rolf von Kuhlmann - Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
last published: 2004-04-30