Allotropes of oxygen

Allotropes of oxygen are distinct structural forms of elemental oxygen, chiefly diatomic oxygen (O₂) and ozone (O₃). Their different molecular structures give them different chemical and physical properties.

Oxygen: Oxygen is the chemical element with atomic number 8, found in free and combined forms. Its atoms form the distinct elemental structures O₂ and O₃.
Ozone formation: Ozone formation is the production of O₃ when atomic oxygen combines with O₂. This reaction creates the triatomic allotrope from oxygen atoms and molecules.
Stratospheric ozone layer: The stratospheric ozone layer is a region of elevated ozone concentration that absorbs much harmful ultraviolet radiation. It is the largest natural reservoir of atmospheric O₃.
Dioxygen: Dioxygen is the diatomic molecular form of elemental oxygen, with formula O₂. It is the stable, abundant allotrope against which ozone is compared.
Chemical element: A chemical element is a pure substance defined by atoms with the same number of protons. Allotropy describes different structures made from one element.
Ozone decomposition: Ozone decomposition is the breakdown of O₃ into oxygen molecules or reactive oxygen species. It describes how the less stable allotrope returns toward O₂.
Ozone therapy: Ozone therapy is the use of ozone in proposed medical treatments, many of which lack established safety and efficacy. It illustrates how ozone’s strong reactivity becomes a claimed medical application.
Ozone: Ozone is a triatomic form of elemental oxygen, with formula O₃. It is the reactive allotrope contrasted with ordinary molecular oxygen.
Chemical bond: A chemical bond is an interaction that holds atoms together in molecules or extended structures. Different bonding arrangements distinguish oxygen’s molecular forms.
Photodissociation: Photodissociation is the breaking of a chemical bond after a molecule absorbs a photon. Ultraviolet light splits O₂, supplying atomic oxygen for ozone formation.

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Potassium peroxideCompared with: Peroxide is an oxygen-containing ion, not an allotrope of elemental oxygen.