Oxygen is so important because it is part of oxides, organic substances, water or H2O and living things, that is, it is essential for respiration. Oxygen is a non-metallic element, so it is a poor conductor of heat and electricity. This characteristic is elementary to non-metallic elements. In this sense, oxygen becomes neither sheet, nor ice, nor stretchable, all because of the fragility of its composition.
The first chemist to study oxygen was Scheele, in 1772. This Swedish scientist identified the element as one of the main components of air, which is why he called it “fire air”. However, the discovery of oxygen is credited to Priestley, who published his research in 1774. Neither Scheele nor Priestley gave oxygen an exact name. Thus, in 1777, Lavoisier determined that the word oxygen was derived from the Greek oxy meaning genes, acidifiers.
Uses of Oxygen
Abundance of oxygen in the atmosphere
Oxygen is abundant in the biosphere, which is why it is one of the most abundant elements, after helium and hydrogen. In the Sun, there is about 0.9% oxygen, a number that translates to 49.2% of the crust.
Gaseous oxygen, on the other hand, is the second component of the earth with 20.8% by volume. On the planets, the lower or higher amount of oxygen that allows for a better quality or existence of life.
The high concentration of oxygen on earth is the result of a circulation cycle, which includes the lithosphere, the biosphere and the atmosphere. One of the most important things that happens with oxygen is photosynthesis, which helps plants grow with carbon dioxide.
The polar oceans need the emission of oxygen O2. The higher the solubility of oxygen, the more the oceans have a greater coherence of life. However, the amount of O2 in the water was affected by water contamination or water contamination.
Health effects of oxygen
- Humans need oxygen to breathe.
- Excess oxygen in many substances can cause lung damage in humans.
- The high oxygen exposure in enclosed spaces is detrimental to health, which is why those exposed should undergo monthly checks.
- Upon entering an intensive care, coma or intensive care unit, people must be hooked up to oxygen ventilators to survive.
- When you have difficulty breathing, doctors may give you oxygen therapy.
- It is used in astronaut suits.
- Scuba tanks contain oxygen.
- Oxygen behaves like a poison in its gaseous form. This is to fight bacteria that cause gangrene.
- Oxygen moves easily.
- Oxygen is a tasteless, odorless and colorless gas. When concentrated, it becomes a blue liquid.
- As a medicine, oxygen is used to treat hypoxia and headaches.
- In addition, oxygen is used as an antifreeze, for welding, transformation of iron into steel, metal cutting, among others.
Care if a minor receives oxygen
- Call your doctor if the person is breathing fast or faster than normal.
- Breathing makes noise.
- His chest hurts from breathing.
- He does not eat.
- Abnormal movement of your nostrils when you breathe.
- The lips take on a dark color like gray or bluish.
- He suffers from insomnia.
- You feel suffocated or short of breath.
