Oxygen Essay

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Oxygen

Oxygen is the most abundant element on the earth. It makes up 23 percent of air,

89 percent of water, and about 46 percent of crustal rock It also comprises 60 percent of

the human body. Oxygen is an essential element for survival. Without it, we would not be

here today. In this report, you will learn how oxygen, in its many forms, is very important.

Oxygen was first discovered in 1774 by the British chemist Joseph Priestley, when

he decomposed mercury II oxide into its elements by heating it. Karl Wilhelm Scheel, a

Swedish chemist, discovered it when he heated manganese dioxide with concentrated

sulfuric acid.. French chemist, Antoine Laurent Lavoisier, proved it was an elemental gas, …show more content…

Johnston announced the discovery of two isotopes of oxygen, with mass

numbers of 17 and 18.

Oxygen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, located in group VIa of the periodic

table. It is slightly denser than air. It is a poor conductor of heat and electricity, and

slightly soluble in water. Oxygen also supports combustion, but does not burn. Its atomic

number is 8. Its atomic mass is 15.9994. Oxygen melts at -218.4 C and boils at -183 C.

It contains 8 protons, electrons, and neurtons. It is also classified as a nonmetal, which

has 2 energy levels. It is also slightly magnetic and not harmful at all. Oxygen can be

condensed to a pale blue liquid, which is very magnetic. It is produced by compressing

the liquid. Oxygen used to be the official standard for the atomic weights of elements.

The chemists used natural oxygen, to which the value of 16 was assigned. In 1961,

however, carbon-12 replaced oxygen as the standard.

There are only three allotropic forms of oxygen known today. There is ordinary

oxygen, which contains two atoms per molecule. Its formula is O2. Ordinary oxygen is

relatively reactive and combines with most elements to form oxides. O2 is required for …show more content…

However, some may react rapidly if the temperature is raised.

When oxygen and certain types of molds and bacteria are present, decay can occur.

Decay is a form of oxidation. Through decay, dead plant and animal materials are

reconverted into carbon dioxide, water, and simple mineral compounds. New generations

of plants and animals now have space to live.

Through the oxygen cycle, oxygen can be used over and over again. When plants

take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, water molecules are split and oxygen is

released into the atmosphere. Oxygen is also produced commercially, by the fractional

distillation of liquid air. In this process, air is liquefied and allowed to evaporate. The

nitrogen in the liquid air is more volatile and boils off first, leaving the oxygen. Oxygen

can even be prepared in a laboratory by using salts such as potassium chlorate, barium

peroxide, and sodium peroxide. You can also decompose hydrogen peroxide to produce

oxygen. You may also prepare oxygen by the electrolysis of water. In this process, a

direct current of electricity is passed through the water. As the current flows, oxygen

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