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Lachycharts · 2 Aug 2009, 1:54 AM

I know this thread is old, but for future reference since I also riddled over this question but found my answers through my understanding of physics and also various sites. Basically I have written this in my assessment:

Different molecules/atoms absorb and reflect light at different frequencies (this is what determines the colour of a substance) due to the energy states of the electrons. Due to the differences in bonding in ozone and oxygen, ozone has different electron states to O₂ and absorbs all but blue light and oxygen absorbs and reflects light in which the human eye cannot see, hence the reason why it is observed to be colourless.

2 Aug 2009, 1:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
Lachycharts Don't afraid of anything! HSC: 2009 Gender: Male Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 65 Last Activity: 6 Mar 2010, 11:24 PM	Re: Oxygen and Ozone I know this thread is old, but for future reference since I also riddled over this question but found my answers through my understanding of physics and also various sites. Basically I have written this in my assessment: Different molecules/atoms absorb and reflect light at different frequencies (this is what determines the colour of a substance) due to the energy states of the electrons. Due to the differences in bonding in ozone and oxygen, ozone has different electron states to O₂ and absorbs all but blue light and oxygen absorbs and reflects light in which the human eye cannot see, hence the reason why it is observed to be colourless.