Pure undamaged NaClO3 and KClO3 crystals show four Raman lines arising from the internal oscillations in the ClO3 ion, besides a few other Raman lines due to lattice oscillations. On radiation damage by X-rays or γ-rays some new lines are observed in each crystal. In particular, two lines at ∼ 680 and ∼ 930 are assigned to the ozonide ion (O3 −) in these lattices. It is postulated that by radiation damage a certain number of ClO3 ions, which initially have a pyramidal structure, loose the chlorine atom leaving the three oxygen atoms at the corners of an equilateral tri-angle. Since an equilateral triangular structure should exhibit two normal oscillations, both of which are Raman active, such a postulate satisfactorily explains experimental results.