Photochemical smog is formed through a complex series of reactions involving sunlight, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The process is initiated when sunlight splits nitrogen dioxide ([latex]NO_2[/latex]) into nitric oxide (NO) and an oxygen atom (O). This free oxygen atom then combines with molecular oxygen ([latex]O_2[/latex]) to form ground-level ozone ([latex]O_3[/latex]), a primary component of smog.

















