It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Other articles where Oxygen-16 is discussed: glacier: Information from deep cores: …the ratio of oxygen-18 to oxygen-16. Here’s an in-depth look at its many benefits. Oxygen canisters are only used if you're out and about: at the shops, for example. Answer: Oxygen sensor, oxygen masks, and for aircraft propulsion. Gas symbol O 2 is also punched on the cylinder valve. // ]]> This highly essential element is widely used and can be easily taken for granted. Humans use oxygen to help them produce various things, heal diseases, ease daily activities and many other things. The chemical elements that fall under the Group 16 are known as ‘chalcogens.’ True or False? Its major use is in steel production, for example in the Bessemer process. Oxygen, the most widely occurring element on the Earth, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. Uses of oxygen in the industry are extensive. Some studies have shown an increase in survival rates in patients who use oxygen more than 15 hours a day. It can exist as a liquid at extremely low temperatures. Furthermore, oxygen is also used for industrial purposes. Commercial oxygen or oxygen-enriched air has replaced ordinary air in the chemical industry for the manufacture of such oxidation-controlled chemicals as acetylene, ethylene oxide, and methanol. This write-up will tell you about its features and uses. Oxygen makes up about 21 percent of the gas in the atmosphere. Oxygen is required for yielding antifreeze and polyester polymers. Apart from respiration, there are numerous uses of oxygen, like medical uses, industrial uses, etc. Nonetheless, this element is still used in various ways and means in industries.…, Silver nitrate is a chemical compound having many uses, and it's also a highly versatile precursor to most of the other compounds of this element. Oxygen is of great importance in the chemical and the iron and steel industries. The gas is characterized by its high reactivity. The primary applications of oxygen include melting, refining, and manufacture of steel along with other metals. Health care; Poison management. What is an oxygen analyzer? Compressed oxygen can catch on fire. It is used in the production and manufacturing of glass and stone products, and in mining. Oxygen is of great importance in the chemical and the iron and steel industries. It combines directly with various elements to form oxides and is an important constituent of many acids, hydroxides, and various other compounds. It plugs into the wall and has a long tube for the oxygen that can reach most rooms in your home. Commercially, it can be prepared by the process of liquefaction and fractional distillation of air and through electrolysis of water. Most acute treatment algorithms, therefore, recommended the liberal use of a high fraction of inspired oxygen, oft … Oxygen has many uses other than keeping you animated! Read on, and you'll be surprised at the utility of this ubiquitous substance. Oxygen has many important uses within the steel industry, each of them involves the heating and melting of metals. ), which is more reactive than natural oxygen, is another allotrope of oxygen formed due to electrical discharges, or ultraviolet light reacting with the atmospheric oxygen. Thus, Oxygen is needed for the reaction that converts carbon to carbon dioxide gas in steel working, which takes place under high temperatures in a blast furnace. Uses of Oxygen. The main specific uses of oxygen are best summarized by separating them into the three convenient categories referred to above. Oxygen gas is used to kill bacteria causing gangrene (as it is poisonous for them) and treat carbon monoxide poisoning as well. The oxyacetylene torch is another important industrial application. Molecular oxygen, or oxygen gas, has the formula O_2_ and is therefore diatomic (has two atoms). • Oxygen is also used at plants that treat sewage or purify water. Oxygen gas is poisonous to bacteria that causes gangrene. An oxygen concentrator pulls oxygen from the air around you, helping you get the oxygen you need. Oxygen therapy is widely used in the management of a number of chronic and acute health conditions. In its molecular form, oxygen is found almost anywhere in the atmosphere. Gas Welding; Combustion of fuels in automobiles. Oxygen is used by animals and plants in the respiration (breathing) process. And if you've had a look around the medical, industrial and aerospace worlds, you've probably seen oxygen storage systems well represented in each of these areas. It is used in the welding, cutting, and forming of metals, as in oxyacetylene welding, in which oxygen reacts with acetylene to form an extremely hot flame. This is an important use of oxygen in the body. It is naturally found in the sun and plays a vital role in the stellar carbon cycle. Oxygen is obviously pretty useful for keeping us going, but is also widely used in industry as an oxidant, where it can give up some of that solar energy captured by plant and those cyanobacteria. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Fortuitously, this is halfway between the 17 percent needed for many creatures to sustain life and the 25 percent level at which oxygen's flammable nature becomes a concern. Oxygen is the third most abundantly found element in the universe. However, the exact concentration of oxygen-18 in precipitation, particularly at high latitudes, depends on the temperature. Oxygen is an element with atomic symbol O, atomic number 8, and atomic weight 16. Being the first member of Group 16 of the periodic table, oxygen is a chemically active element, forming compounds with nearly all the elements except the inert gases. They are also used as life support for astronauts and scuba divers. Although it is a poor conductor of heat and electricity, oxygen supports combustion but does not burn itself in the reaction. Just about everyone knows that oxygen is critical to human life and that going without it for more than just a couple of minutes is incompatible with maintaining that life. Which are the three most abundantly found elements in the universe. Oxygen makes up around 21 percent of Earth's atmosphere, and, out of the gases found on the planet, humans use it the most, if only because it is necessary for most mammalian life. Would you like to write for us? Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Who is often credited for discovering oxygen? It's a box about the size of a big computer printer. The uses of oxygen are varied. function getans(n){document.getElementById('answer' + n).style.display ="block";document.getElementById('show' +n).style.display ="none";} Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Oxygen, discovered in 1774 by Joseph Priestly, is necessary for combustion, and oxygen is therefore used in metallurgy, which requires extremely high temperatures to bring about the required chemical reactions. The natural oxygen in the atmosphere called diatomic oxygen gas has a molecular mass of 32 while ozone (O3), which is more reactive than natural oxygen, is another allotrope of oxygen formed due to electrical discharges, or ultraviolet light reacting with the atmospheric oxygen. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Obviously, oxygen is important for human respiration. [CDATA[ CAMEO Chemicals. Living creatures use this chemical element for different purposes inside their bodies. Kevin Beck holds a bachelor's degree in physics with minors in math and chemistry from the University of Vermont. Do not use anything flammable, such as cleaning fluids, gasoline, or aerosol sprays near your oxygen. Chemical Analysis (quality control) Involved in chemical reactions. The most important use of oxygen is in respiration. It is paramagnetic in all its three forms; i.e., solid, liquid, and gaseous state. Oxygen is used in the production of synthesis gas from coal, for resuscitation and as an inhalant. This can include for low blood oxygen, carbon monoxide toxicity, cluster headaches, and to maintain enough oxygen while inhaled anesthetics are given. Therefore, oxygen therapy is used for people who have trouble breathing due to some medical condition (such as emphysema or pneumonia). Special oxygen chambers are used in case of high pressure to increase the partial pressure of oxygen around the patient. ‘When in doubt leave it out’—if you are not sure about its contents do not use the cylinder. WebMD Medical Reference Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD … Well, we're looking for good writers who want to spread the word. Oxygen-16 is the dominant isotope, making up more than 99 percent of all natural oxygen; oxygen-18 makes up 0.2 percent. Apart from respiration, there are numerous uses of oxygen, like medical uses, industrial uses, etc. Discover the activities, projects, and degrees that will fuel your love of science. Oxygen appears chiefly in biomedical, manufacturing and aerospace contexts in the modern world, and the importance of oxygen extends well beyond human and animal respiratory systems. It is an essential element for human survival. How much percentage of oxygen does water contain? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Its major use is in steel production, for example in the Bessemer process. An Overview of the Common Uses of the Element Mercury, All living organisms including animals and plants use oxygen present in the air for, The medical uses of oxygen involve supplying it in, Oxygen gas is used to kill bacteria causing. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Initially, this was supported by the assumed need to avoid hypoxaemia and tissue hypoxia. Widespread cell death in the same area leads to tissue death, or necrosis. • Oxygen as a gas is required to produce energy in industrial processes, generators and ships and it … Frat et al. To ascertain the climatic conditions that existed about a million years ago, scientists evaluate the ratio of isotopes of oxygen-18 and oxygen-16 — in the skeletons of marine organisms. Oxygen treatment has been a cornerstone of acute medical care for numerous pathological states. Treatment not only increases oxygen levels in the patient’s blood, but has the secondary effect of decreasing resistance to blood flow in many types of diseased lungs, easing the work load on the heart. Therefore, it is used to kill them. In sterilization. Although it is a poor conductor of heat and electricity, oxygen supports combustion but does not burn itself in the reaction. Tanks of oxygen are used in medicine to treat people with breathing problems. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Oxygen therapy, also known as supplemental oxygen, is the use of oxygen as a medical treatment. These cookies do not store any personal information. Oxygen is utilized in Oxygen is of great importance in the chemical and the iron and steel industries. It is also used in the production of a wide variety of substances of industrial interest, such as acetylene, acrolein, hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide), … More about Kevin and links to his professional work can be found at www.kemibe.com. We hope you are enjoying ScienceStruck! That said, it finds use in numerous other human endeavors: medicine, construction, transportation and even recreation, to name a few. Knowing the vital role it plays in all aspects of our life, it is necessary to preserve it. Formerly with ScienceBlogs.com and the editor of "Run Strong," he has written for Runner's World, Men's Fitness, Competitor, and a variety of other publications. Oxygen is also used in the partial combustion of methane (natura… According to the American Lung Association, supplemental oxygen improves sleep, mood, mental alertness, stamina, and allows individuals to carry out normal, everyday functions. Copyright © Science Struck & Buzzle.com, Inc. Oxygen is used mainly in the metal-mechanical industries as combustion of torches for welding and cutting of iron and steel materials; Is also used in the production of synthesis gas, either by oxidation of natural gas or by reduction of water vapor by carbon. Industrial Use of Oxygen. //