Ozone is a gas made up of three atomes of oxygen joined together. The moleculer formule of ozone is `O_(3)`. Ozone is formed high up in the atmospere by the action of ultraviolet rediations (coming from the sun) on the oxygen gas. The ozone layer present high up in the atmosphere protects all froms of life on earth by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiations coming from the sun. Certain chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which are widely used in refrigeration, fire extinguishers and aerosol sprayers reach the upper atmosphere and react with ozone gas present in ozone layer and destroy it gradually. Due to this the ozone layer in the ipper atmosphere is becoming thinner, allowing more hermful ultraviolet rays to pass through it and reach the earth. Thus, due to the depletion of ozone layer caused by chlorofluorocarbons, more ultraviolet rays reach the earth. These ultraviolet rays can cause skin cancer, cateract in the eyes and damage immune system of humen beings. They also harm animals and plants .
