What smell follows a lightning storm?

Almost everybody on our planet is familiar with the smell of ozone: it is the smell we notice after a thunderstorm. But do you know the reason for it?

Here is the explanation: an electrical charge of lightning splits the molecules of oxygen (O₂) into single atoms (O) and then some of these single atoms combine into ozone molecules (O₃). That is why we feel the specific smell associated with a thunderstorm.

It is good that only some atoms of oxygen combine into a group of three, because too much ozone is dangerous for our health: this gas is a strong oxidizer and large amounts of it may do harm to our trachea and lungs and even prove fatal.

Test your knowledge

What are your thoughts on this subject?

112 Comments

Michelle Rodgers-Babin

Bruce Cassamajor - I believe the writer of the comment was referring to himself when he said " this layman" not to the writer of the question.

Teo Sinclair

The correct word is 'precedes,' not 'proceeds.' How can you make such an error even in the question, itself? How ignernt!

David Oppenheim

The question asks for 'smell', nothing about molecules produced. This layman never knew oxygen had a smell.

Teo Sinclair

Glenn Rossano Dunnit awn perpiss, Glennnn. It's cawld a joke. It's funny 'cause dats how ignernt folk say 'ignernt.' now ya gettit? Little slow, Glennnnn?

Lukaea Eunice Sabrina Brown

Bruce Cassamajor I believe he was referring to himself.

Jon Harris

It's the ozone that has a peculiar odor. The question was not well sta ted because the ozone is created during the electrical storm.

Larry Freeman

Bruce Cassamajor The term "layman" is, in and of itself, not pejorative, certainly not "a name"; it merely denotes a lack of professional or specialized knowledge. In fact, the lack of facility demonstrated in your comment leads me to think that you yourself are quite probably a layman: viz, "The problem is not preceeding the lighting storm but the thunder". What "problem" were you addressing? Very confusing...

Linda Marshall

Teo Sinclair, if you must correct someone’s grammar, please be kind. There’s enough meanness and it serves no purpose.

gusroy

You can also smell nitrogen oxides.

Chrissy Krainock Luders

In areas the smell is different after a rainstorm. I live in Kauai and the smell after rain is miles apart (pun intended) from the smell after rain in Arizona. They are distinctive and I could tell with my eyes closed which is which.

Kath Thomson

Huge ozone hole over Australasia and not enough lightning to replace it!

Jas Newman

Martha McDowell, Apples and oranges—the smell of the earth after a rain is not from ozone. The scent is called petrichor, and it comes from microscopic streptomycete bacteria in the soil that, when wet, produce a compound called geosmin.

Martha McDowell

Cari G., I look forward to more of his questions as well.

Martha McDowell

Ron Harvey, you encourage me to be polite - welcome and great question. Thank you

Martha McDowell

This is the best quizz question yet. I always have noticed how the earth and air smell after a storm but I didn't know why. Thank you!

nrudlandwood

Great question, I have noticed the smell and wondered.

Laura Lunardini Wilson

I’ve never been in that type of lightening storm! Have never smelled anything after the lightening we get in storms in CA!

Cari G.

Congrats to our newest author on his first published question. Well done! I look forward to many more.

Alex Jaleco

I was hit by lightning under a tree while playing golf i only smell myself roasted skin

Denny Quigley

Ozone is the smell that follows a lightening strike so if you are close to a strike the question is correct. However rain, which almost always happens with a lightening storm, cause bacteria in the soil to activate releasing nitrogen into the soil and air. Them small after a storm is nitrogen.