Periodic Table: 8. Oxygen | 15 Feb 2023 | @rey01v

The existence of life on earth depends on the gas known as oxygen, which has no color, taste, or odor. The atomic number of oxygen is 8, and the letter O serves as its symbol. It makes up around 21% of the Earth's atmosphere in terms of volume and is the third most plentiful element in the universe. Being a highly reactive element, oxygen is essential for the respiration process, which enables living things to produce energy from the food they consume.

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Carl Wilhelm Scheele, a Swedish chemist, made the discovery of oxygen in 1772. But it wasn't until the late 1700s that Antoine Lavoisier, a French chemist, realized that oxygen was actually an element and gave it that name. Since then, oxygen has grown in significance as one of the key substances in chemistry and biology.

Oxygen has a number of industrial purposes in addition to its function in breathing. For instance, it is employed in the fabrication of metals like steel and others, the creation of chemicals like polymers and explosives, and the purification of sewage and other pollutants. Additionally, oxygen is employed in medical procedures like anesthesia and the treatment of respiratory illnesses.

Being a very reactive element, oxygen may combine with numerous other elements to produce compounds. As a waste product of respiration, it mixes with carbon to create carbon dioxide and with hydrogen to create water. Additionally, it is utilized to create ozone, a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms that helps shield the Earth from dangerous UV radiation.

Even though it's crucial, oxygen isn't always easily accessible in the environment. In some circumstances, such as at high altitudes or in small areas, the oxygen content may be insufficient to sustain human life. To help persons who require additional oxygen, oxygen masks and tanks are utilized in circumstances like scuba diving and flying.

Uses of Oxygen

Respiration:

The most significant usage of oxygen is in respiration, which is how living things convert food into energy. Without oxygen, this process cannot take place, and we would not be able to survive.

Applications in medicine:

Patients experiencing respiratory distress can benefit from the usage of oxygen in medicine. Through the use of a mask, nasal cannula, or other tools, oxygen treatment is utilized to raise the blood's oxygen content.

Welding and cutting:

Oxy-fuel welding and cutting uses oxygen to produce a flame that may be used to weld or cut metal. Acetylene is one of the fuel gases that is used in this process.

Ozone production:

Oxygen can be used to create ozone, a chemical that has several uses, such as sterilization, air purification, and water filtration.

Aquaculture:

Oxygen is used to raise the water's oxygen content, which is essential for fish and other aquatic species to survive.

Applications in industry:

Steel production, chemical manufacturing, and wastewater treatment are just a few of the many industrial uses for oxygen. It can be used to oxidize steel impurities, create chemicals like ethylene oxide, and degrade organic waste products.

Aerospace:

In order to sustain human life at great altitudes, oxygen is employed in aerospace applications. To provide breathing air, it is employed in spacesuits and aircraft cabins.

Conclusion

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Overall, oxygen is an essential component for life on Earth and has uses in both industrial and medicinal fields in addition to the biological one. As a result of its discovery and subsequent comprehension, it has had a significant influence on both science and society, and scientists all around the world continue to find its study to be fruitful.