The correct statement(s) about \(O_3\) is (are)

1. \(O-O\) bond length are equal
2. Thermal decomposition of \(O_3\) is endothermic
3. \(O_3\) is diamagnetic in nature
4. \(O_3\) has bent structure

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A, C, D

The correct answer is (1) A, C, D

First of all let us see what \(O_3\) is.

It is ozone and is an allotropic molecular form of oxygen. It is basically formed when oxygen gas \((O_2)\) is passed through a high voltage potential which results in the attachment of another oxygen atom to it and forms an ozone \((O_3)\) molecule. Also ozone is unstable, pale blue coloured gas, it also has a pungent odour like that of chlorine gas and an important property of ozone is to protect the earth from the ultraviolet radiations emitted by the sun.

Now let us take a look at the structure of ozone.

Ozone \((O_3)\) forms a bent structure because the non-bonding electrons or the lone pair takes up a lot of space and repels the bond pairs. Due to the presence of negative and positive formal charges the molecule has the ability to undergo resonance as shown below:

From the above resonating structures we can see that both the bonds are involved in resonance and so both the bond lengths become equal.

We can also see that there are no unpaired electrons in ozone and hence it will be diamagnetic.

As we discussed above ozone \((O_3)\) is an unstable form of oxygen and the oxygen molecule \((O_2)\) is quite stable. We know that a more stable molecule possesses less energy as compared to an unstable molecule and so the energy of oxygen molecules will be lesser and that of ozone will be higher. So ozone molecules being unstable will very easily decompose into oxygen molecules and since oxygen molecules possess lesser energy, the extra energy of ozone molecules will be released. This makes the process of ozone molecules an exothermic process. But the formation of ozone molecules is an endothermic process.

The involved reaction is:

\(2O_3 \longrightarrow 3O_2\); and the enthalpy here is: \(ΔH^0 = −142kJ.mol^{−1}\).

Hence from the above discussion, we can conclude that the correct options will be:

A. \(O-O\) bond length are equal

C. \(O_3\) is diamagnetic in nature

D. \(O_3\) has bent structure