Photodissociation of Molecular Oxygen (O2)

Photodissociation of oxygen.
Animation courtesy COMET.

This movie shows how an ultraviolet (UV) photon can break apart an oxygen molecule. When the photon hits the oxygen molecule, it adds energy to the molecule. The extra energy breaks the bond between the two oxygen atoms, and the atoms fly apart. This is called photodissociation.

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Photodissociation of Molecular Nitrogen

Photodissociation of Water

Photodissociation of the Hydroxyl Radical

Last modified February 17, 2006 by Randy Russell.

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