Oxygen

Oxygen

  • Submitted By: ilov3you
  • Date Submitted: 01/31/2011 8:26 PM
  • Category: Science
  • Words: 272
  • Page: 2
  • Views: 448

Oxygen is a chemical element consisting of eight protons, eight neutrons and eight electrons. Two hydrogen atoms combine with one oxygen atom to form a molecule of water It is the third most abundant element in the universe is Oxygen. It makes up nearly twenty-one percent of the earths atmosphere. Oxygen is also a highly reactive element and is capable of combining with other elements. The atomic number for oxygen is 8 while its atomic weight is 15.9994. Antoine Lavoisier, the creator of the name oxygen believed oxygen was necessary to form all acids. Not only do plants and animals use oxygen for respiration but hospitals frequently prescribe oxygen for respiratory ailments as well.

Oxygen, symbol O is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, slightly magnetic gaseous element that is 1/5 of the volume of the atmosphere. Oxygen was discovered in 1774 by the British chemist Joseph Priestley and, independently, by the Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele; it was shown to be an elemental gas by the French chemist Antoine Laurent in his experiment on combustion. Oxygen is probably the single most important element in the world as we know it. With out Oxygen we would not breath, have water, or eat plants. Oxygen is the most abundant metal in the universe, and the third most abundant element overall, after hydrogen and helium. Oxygen has atomic number eight and is produced by massive stars-those born with over eight Solar masses which eject the element into the Galaxy when they explode. Large amounts of oxygen are used in high-temperature welding torches, in which a mixture of oxygen and another......

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