What characteristic of ozone makes it challenging to maintain a residual in water?

What characteristic of ozone makes it challenging to maintain a residual in water?

• A. It is very volatile
• B. It is very unstable in water
• C. It has a high solubility
• D. It reacts too slowly

Answer: (B)

Ozone (O3) is known for its instability, particularly in water. When dissolved in water, ozone tends to decompose relatively quickly into oxygen and other byproducts, which makes it difficult to maintain a residual concentration. This inherent instability is due to ozone's strong oxidizing properties; it readily reacts with various organic and inorganic substances present in the water, leading to its rapid degradation. In contrast, other options do not accurately capture the primary challenge of maintaining ozone as a residual. While ozone is volatile, this characteristic refers more to gases transitioning into the atmosphere rather than its stability in water. High solubility tends to facilitate its initial mixing with water but doesn't directly relate to the challenge of residual maintenance. Lastly, the reaction kinetics involving ozone are often rapid, meaning that it reacts quickly rather than slowly. This rapid reactivity, tied to its instability, is the key reason why maintaining an ozone residual in water systems is so challenging.

Ozone (O3) is known for its instability, particularly in water. When dissolved in water, ozone tends to decompose relatively quickly into oxygen and other byproducts, which makes it difficult to maintain a residual concentration. This inherent instability is due to ozone's strong oxidizing properties; it readily reacts with various organic and inorganic substances present in the water, leading to its rapid degradation.

In contrast, other options do not accurately capture the primary challenge of maintaining ozone as a residual. While ozone is volatile, this characteristic refers more to gases transitioning into the atmosphere rather than its stability in water. High solubility tends to facilitate its initial mixing with water but doesn't directly relate to the challenge of residual maintenance. Lastly, the reaction kinetics involving ozone are often rapid, meaning that it reacts quickly rather than slowly. This rapid reactivity, tied to its instability, is the key reason why maintaining an ozone residual in water systems is so challenging.