Ozone is effective against which of the following contaminants?

Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent that is particularly effective at inactivating pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and amoebic cysts in water. Its strong oxidizing properties enable it to disrupt the cell walls of microorganisms, leading to their inactivation or destruction. This makes ozone an excellent choice for disinfection in both wastewater and potable water treatment processes.

While other contaminants like heavy metals and salts, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and suspended solids can be addressed through different water treatment methods, they do not have the same susceptibility to ozone as microbial contaminants. Heavy metals require removal techniques such as precipitation or ion exchange, while suspended solids and sediment are typically managed through filtration or sedimentation processes. Chlorinated hydrocarbons may require advanced oxidation or other chemical methods for effective removal. Thus, option B correctly identifies the types of contaminants that ozone effectively targets in water treatment.