Debbie Lehman, age 9, of Milwaukee, Wis., for her question:

WHAT IS OZONE?

Ozone is a form of oxygen and can be produced by passing an electrical disharge through oxygen. Lightning is a natural means of producing ozone. It is also found in the upper atmosphere, being produced when ultraviolet sunlight hits oxygen.

The ozone produced in the atmosphere is occasionally wafted down into the earth's lower atmosphere by convection. currents. Only minute quantities are in the air that man breathes, however, and in these small amounts the gas can give an invigorating touch to the air.

Ozone is different from ordinary oxygen because the molecule has three atoms of oxygen. instead of two. It is chemically active because the extra atom of oxygen is loosely held and combines readily with substances.