Ozone Depletion Candy Activity

Introduction: The Earth is surrounded by a unified layer called the ozone layer that sits in
between the troposphere and the stratosphere. This layer protects us and our environment from
harmful ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun due to the many ozone molecules in this area. This
layer has been depleting for a while, but has recently made a comeback due to our collective
efforts. The ozone layer gets depleted due to chlorofluorocarbons being released into the
atmosphere. When exposed to these ultraviolet rays, the chlorofluorocarbons break down and
chlorine is released. The chlorine molecules then attach to the ozone molecules and break off
an oxygen atom. This results in less ozone molecules in the atmosphere, which means less
protection from ultraviolet rays.

Instructions: During this activity, you and a partner will act as either the creator or destroyer of
ozone molecules. You will be given the following materials:

● Toothpicks
● 30 total sour patch watermelon candies (per group)
● Masking Tape
● Timer

Procedure:
1. Make a rectangle out of masking tape on your table. This should be about 2 feet long
and 1.5 feet wide.
2. Out of the toothpicks and candies, make 5 ozone molecules (3 candies, 2 toothpicks), 5
oxygen molecules (2 candies, 1 toothpick), have 5 free oxygen atoms (candies), and 3
free toothpicks. Put these in the middle of your rectangle and mix them up.
3. Make someone the designated ozone maker and make the other person the designated
ozone destroyer.
4. The maker will use free oxygen atoms and toothpicks to make as many ozone molecules
they can. The destroyer will take the ozone molecules and break off an oxygen atom to
as many molecules as possible.
5. Once the molecules, atoms, and toothpicks are set in the rectangle, set a timer for 30
seconds.
6. Once the timer starts, both the maker and destroyer work simultaneously on their own
tasks. Once the timer stops, organize and count how many you have of each group.
7. Record your data and repeat for trials 1, 2, and 3.
8. For trial 4, limit the maker by only allowing them to make an ozone molecule once every
5 seconds. Record your data.
9. For trial 5, limit the destroyer by only allowing them to destroy an ozone molecule once
every 10 seconds. Record your data.
Results:

Trials # of Ozone # of Oxygen # of Oxygen # of Toothpicks

Molecules Molecules Atoms

Discussion:
1. Why was this a good representation of the ozone layer and its properties?

2. What do you think we were trying to represent for trials 4 and 5?

3. If we used more materials and had a bigger rectangle, would the proportions be different,
or no?

4. What is another factor that we could change in order to have a different outcome of this
lab?

5. Compare your data with groups around you. Is your data similar, different, or the same?
Why do you think this is the case?