Question

Which of the following gases protects us from the harmful ultraviolet rays?

Options

• Carbon dioxide

• Nitrogen

• Ozone

• Helium

Answer 1

Ozone

Explanation:

Ozone protects us from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays because it absorbs and breaks down these rays in the stratosphere, forming a layer that prevents most of the UV radiation from reaching Earth’s surface. Without the ozone layer, UV rays would cause skin burns, skin cancer, blindness, lower immunity, and harm plants and aquatic life. This protective layer is formed when oxygen molecules break into atoms by UV radiation, which then combine with oxygen to form ozone (O₃) in the stratosphere. Thus, ozone acts as a shield, making life on Earth possible by blocking dangerous UV rays.