Chemical Properties:

Ozone is a natural component of the earth's upper atmosphere and it always exists in the gaseous form at ambient conditions. The three atoms of oxygen that make up one molecule of ozone are nearly the shape of an equilateral triangle. The electronic bonding between each oxygen is achieved by the sharing of six electrons; two of which resonate between all three atoms. It is these electrons that participate in the electrophillic attack on many substances. Ozone is the most powerful known oxidizing agent that can be used on a practical scale for water treatment applications. For example, the comparative oxidizing strengths of ozone, chlorine, and chlorine dioxide are 2.07, 1.36, and 1.275 volts versus hydrogen, respectively. Ozone is fairly stable in dry air and has a half-life of several hours in low concentration. In water, ozone half-life is several minutes. Because ozone is very reactive in an aqueous environment, ozone can oxidize material between 10 to 1000 times faster than most oxidants used in water treatment. In some instances of organic oxidation, the material can be completely oxidized to carbon dioxide and water. Pure Ozone is around 12.5 times more soluble in water than oxygen. Ozone water treatment systems traditionally inject air containing 1-2% ozone concentrations into the water. At these levels the maximum solubility of ozone is between 2 and 6 ppm, respectively depending primarily on temperature and pressure.

Ozone: home
Background
Chemical Properties
Ozone Production
Ozone Chemistry
Ozone Environmental and Health Aspects