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____ naturally occurs in higher levels of atmosphere (stratosphere), protects living matter from ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation, and is destroyed by pollutants, such as Chlorofluorocarbons. (Fill in the blank)

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Answer:

Ozone

Step-by-step explanation:

Ozone is colorless and odorless gas of low molecular weight, formed by three oxygen atoms, whose nomenclature is O3. It is an allotropic form of oxygen, from which the scientific name is derived: trioxigen. It requires certain conditions of pressure and temperature to be able to form.

It acts as a filter, or protective shield, for harmful radiation, and high energy, that reach the planet, allowing others like the long-wave ultraviolet, which thus reaches the surface. This ultraviolet radiation is what allows life on Earth, facilitating the photosynthesis of terrestrial vegetation, seaweed and seagrasses, which is located at the base of the trophic pyramid.

It is the area of ​​the Earth's stratosphere that contains 90% of the Ozone present in the atmosphere; It extends approximately between 15 and 40 km altitude. Also known as the ozone atmosphere; absorbs 97% to 99% of high frequency ultraviolet radiation.

The photochemical mechanisms that occur in the ozone layer were investigated by British physicist Sidney Chapman in 1930. The formation of ozone in the Earth's stratosphere is catalyzed by ultraviolet light photons that interact with the gaseous oxygen molecules, which are constituted by two oxygen atoms (O2), it separates them into the constituent oxygen (atomic oxygen) atoms. Atomic oxygen is combined with those O2 molecules that still remain unsociated, thus forming ozone molecules, O3.

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