Ozone is a naturally occurring molecule with the formula O 3 . It is a strong oxidizing agent and more reactive than molecular oxygen. Ozone is very unstable and hazardous to prepare.
Ozone is located in the troposphere and the stratosphere.
The stratosphere extends from about 15 km to 50 km. In the troposphere, ozone is a pollutant. However, in the stratosphere, ozone is critical to the survival of the biosphere. If stratospheric ozone were brought down to the Earth's surface under STP conditions, the layer would compress to a thickness of 2 to 5 mm. Ozone protects all life on earth by absorbing harmful ultra-violet radiation.