Which gas is most effective in absorbing incoming harmful ultraviolet radiation in the earth's stratosphere before that radiation reaches earth's surface?
In the Earth's stratosphere, oxygen gas (O₂) is combined with atomic oxygen (O) to form ozone gas (O₃). This is very important because ozone protects the life on Earth from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun. UV radiation is high-energy radiation, and it is very dangerous for living organisms. Ozone molecule (O₃) absorbs UV radiation and it breaks down by forming O₂ and atomic oxygen (O) again. In this way, it protects the Earth from nocive radiation.
