The photolysis of ozone
Ozone was photolyzed at 25 C with steady illumination at several wavelengths from 2288 to 2850 A, at O3 pressures from 0.1 to 2.7 torr, and at absorbed intensities from 0.15 to 65 microns/min. Experiments were done in pure dry O3, and in the presence of He, CO2, N2, H2O, H2, N2O, He-CO2, He-H2O, CO2-H2O, O2-N2O, CO2-O2, and N2O5-O2-CO2 mixtures. The results show that in the absence of added gases or in the presence of He, the quantum yield of O3 consumption is 5.5 independent of conditions, except at pressures below 0.4 torr. In the presence of CO2 or N2, ozone consumption falls toward 4.0. The primary photolytic act produces O(1 D) and siglet O2, presumably O2(1 delta), at all wavelengths below 3000 A. Relative quenching constants O(1 D) removal by various gases were measured at 2288, 2537, and 2800 A. For O3, CO2, and N2, the relative rates are 1.0/0.4 to 0.5/0.08 to 0.11 at all wavelengths. For H2O the constant at 2537 A is 1.5 relative to that for O3. With N2O, a noticeable wavelength effect is observed and the relative rate constants are 1.5, 2 to 3, 4.0 for O3 compared to N2O at 2800, 2537, and 2288 A, respectively.