What is Oxygen? 

We need Oxygen to live.

Without oxygen, our bodies would not survive.  It is truly the “Stuff of Life”.  Oxygen is a source of energy required by the cells in our bodies to perform their functions and tasks.  Basically, Oxygen enables our bodies to work.  But, before we try to understand “Why we need Oxygen”, we first need to answer the question: “What is Oxygen?”

To do this we need to take a little exploration into Science; more specifically, Chemistry.  

Here are some basic Oxygen facts: 

• Oxygen is an Element. 
• The Chemical Symbol for Oxygen is (O) 
• An Oxygen Atom has (8) Protons and (8) Electrons. 
• There are different forms of Oxygen.  The Oxygen we breathe everyday is known as Diatomic Oxygen, which is nothing more than (2) Oxygen Atoms that combine together and is identified with the well known symbol, O₂.  
• Triatomic Oxygen (O₃), is better known as “Ozone.”  
• Oxygen Atoms are very reactive and rarely survive alone, that is why most Oxygen Atoms combine together to form molecules.  It will bond to other Elements, such as, Water (H₂O) or Rust (iron oxide, Fe₂O₃).  
• The Earth’s atmosphere is a composition of layers of various gases; these gases make up what we call Air.  
• Air is made up of approximately 20.95% Oxygen.The balance of air is a mixture of other gases: Approximately 78% Nitrogen; 0.93% Argon; 0.038% Carbon Dioxide; 1% Water Vapor, and trace amounts of other gases.  

Everything Matters

Everything around us is made up of Matter.  Matter comes in (3) states:

Solids (such as, a chair, a brick, or wood); Liquids (such as, water, gasoline, or milk); Gas (such as, air, smoke, or vapors).

What is note worthy about Matter is that a substance can actually exist in all (3) states of matter.  For example, Water can exist as all (3) states of matter, in the form of a Liquid (water); a Solid (ice); or a Gas (water vapor).  In regards to our subject, Oxygen can exist in (2) forms: a Gas and a Liquid.  Temperature will define the state that Oxygen exists.At all normal temperatures, Oxygen is a gas.  At around -297 Degrees Fahrenheit (-183 Degrees Celsius) Oxygen condenses and turns into a pale blue liquid. So, this provides us with a basic working knowledge of Matter. Now, let’s take a closer look at what Matter is made up of.  To do this, we will break down Matter to its smallest unit possible.  This tiny unit is so small that you can not see it with your eyes; this unit is called an Atom. 

Atoms: The Building Blocks of Matter

Matter is made up of very small particles called Atoms.  These tiny particles combine together to form Matter.  For example, the Air that we breathe is a form of Matter (Remember: Matter has (3) forms; Air is a Gas).  Different kinds of Atoms combine together, to form Air.  There are Nitrogen Atoms, Oxygen Atoms, and other types of Atoms, that when combined, make up the Air that we breathe.  Atoms are so microscopic, that you can not see them with your eyes.  A single Atom is 1/250,000,000^th of an inch thick.  Here is another way to visual their tiny size: 10 Million Atoms side-by-side would measure less than ½ inch (1 cm). That is just how small they are!  Even more amazing is that the Atom is made of even smaller components called Subatomic Particles.  These subatomic particles have a purpose. How these sub atomic particles interact with one another explains how Atoms combine and work together to create the various forms of Matter.  The best why to describe the structure of the Atom is to think of it as a series of circles with all of its particles circling around a center.   

The Atom has (4) main components: 

Nucleus: The center of an Atom

Protons:  Located in the Nucleus.  These particles give off a Positive Electric Charge.

Neutrons: Located in the Nucleus.  These particles have No Electrical Charge

Electrons: Circle around the Nucleus. These particles give off a Negative Electric charge 

An Atom is not solid.  It is nothing more than a Nucleus (the center of the Atom) that holds Protons and Neutrons with it’s Electrons circling around this center.  The Electrons circle around the nucleus just as the Planets circle around the sun. At this point you may wonder “What holds all this together if an Atom is not solid?” Well, the answer lies within the Electrons and the Protons. The opposite charges of the Protons ( + ) and Electrons ( – ) are attracted to each other just as (2) magnets with opposite poles stick to one another. So, they work like a magnet does.  This explains why the Electrons do not just float off into space.  This effect, keeps the Nucleus and the Electrons “attracted” to one another.  Another note worthy characteristic is that in a single Atom, the number of Electrons is the same as the number of Protons.  With the same number of Positive and Negative charges, an Atom is electrically neutral and keeps the Atom in balance. 

So, why do we care about this balance of charges? Because it is this basic concept which explains how different Atoms attach to one another to form larger masses called Molecules, which are a combination of Atoms.   

Oxygen Atoms are unstable so they tend to combine with other Atoms and take on other forms.  In this process the different Atoms are able to bond by sharing their Electrons. 

For example:(1) Oxygen Atom + (2) Hydrogen Atoms = (1) Water Molecule.  

 Putting it all together

Oxygen is made up of (2) Oxygne Atoms that when combined form O_2.   Oxygen is unstable and tends to bond with other atoms to form moleucles.  By bonding with other gasses (such as Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide,ect) the result is the molecule, Air. It is the the air we breathe that provides our bodies with the much needed Oxygen. 

Hopefully this was a useful explanation of “What is Oxygen?” 

Please reply and let us know.