OXIDIZERS AS DETERGENTS. The molecular species that initiate most atmospheric reactions (‘oxidizers’ in the chemist 5 terminology) can be regarded as detergents because they transform gases Into water soluble products, thereby facilitating their removal in precipitation. ozone (o3) Is one important oxidizer and also participates in the formation of another detergent: the hydroxyl radical (oH). which interacts with every molecular species in the atmosphere. Much of the trace gases that have been would still be there were It not for these substances. The hydroxyl radical forms after ultraviolet light (hv) dissociates ozone releasing a highly energetic and hence highly reactive -oxygen atom (O) that then combines with a water molecule