Photochemistry
Photochemistry is the study of chemical changes made possible by light energy. The production of ozone in Earth's upper atmosphere is an example of such a change. Light from the Sun (solar energy) strikes oxygen molecules in the stratosphere, causing them to break down into two oxygen atoms:
O2 + hν → O + O
(The expression hν is commonly used to represent a unit of light energy known as the photon.)
In the next stage of that reaction, oxygen atoms react with oxygen molecules to produce ozone (O3):
O + O2 → O3
Steps in photochemical processes
The excited state. A photochemical change takes place in two steps. Imagine that a light beam is shined on a piece of gold. The light beam can be...
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