Ozone is primarily produced by which type of environmental interaction?

Ozone is primarily produced when ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun interacts with oxygen molecules in the atmosphere. This natural process involves UV radiation breaking apart O2 molecules, which then recombine with other free oxygen atoms to form ozone (O3). This reaction is significant in the upper atmosphere, where ozone forms a layer that protects living organisms from harmful UV radiation.

While options such as plant photosynthesis, combustion of fossil fuels, and metal surface reactions may involve various chemical processes and can produce other compounds, they do not lead to the formation of ozone in the same primary manner as UV light interacting with oxygen does. Plant photosynthesis mainly produces oxygen but does not create ozone directly. Combustion of fossil fuels emits pollutants that can affect ozone levels by contributing to secondary ozone formation in the lower atmosphere, but it is not a direct source of ozone production. Similarly, metal surface reactions typically involve corrosion processes or other chemical reactions that do not produce ozone. Thus, the interaction of UV light with oxygen is the fundamental mechanism by which ozone is generated in the environment.