To answer this question, you need to understand the layers of the Earth's atmosphere and their composition.
The Earth's atmosphere is composed of several layers, including the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. The layer responsible for protecting the Earth from harmful UV rays is the ozone layer, which is located within the stratosphere.
Option A) Oxygen - Oxygen is present in the Earth's atmosphere, but it is not the specific layer responsible for protecting the Earth from UV rays.
Option B) Nitrogen - Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere, but it is not the specific layer responsible for protecting the Earth from UV rays.
Option C) Ozone - This option is correct. The ozone layer, which is part of the stratosphere, plays a crucial role in shielding the Earth from harmful UV radiation. Ozone molecules absorb and scatter a significant portion of the Sun's UV radiation, preventing it from reaching the Earth's surface.
Option D) Hydrogen - Hydrogen is present in trace amounts in the Earth's atmosphere, but it is not the specific layer responsible for protecting the Earth from UV rays.
The correct answer is C) Ozone. This option is correct because the ozone layer in the stratosphere protects the Earth from harmful UV rays by absorbing and scattering them.