Awesome facts about life gas oxygen

Oxygen may be an element whose symbol is O and its number is 8, and it's located within the weather of the second cycle and at the highest of the sixteenth group in the periodic table, which is called by the name of the chalcogen group and it is the main group element. Oxygen is classified into nonmetals, and it is in normal conditions of pressure and temperature in the form of diatomic gas O2. It has no color, taste, or smell.
Atomic oxygen is distinguished by its great chemical activity, as it is a strong oxidant, and it tends to bind to form chemical compounds, especially oxides. It is also one of the most important elements in the earth, and it is widespread, as oxygen gas constitutes 20.94% of the composition of the Earth's atmosphere; Besides, an allotropic form of it is O3. 

The most abundant element in the earth's crust is oxygen, where it is present at 48.9% by weight, and it is second only to iron in terms of the abundance of elements in the composition of the earth as a whole. Atomic oxygen is found in abundance in the universe, where it is the third most abundant element after hydrogen and helium. There are three stable isotopes of oxygen 16O, 17O, and 18O, the most abundant of which is oxygen-16, with a natural abundance of 99.8%.
Oxygen is of very great vital importance, as it is indispensable for the continuation of life on the surface of the earth, as it is the basis of cellular respiration in humans and animals, and it is also involved in the photosynthesis process in plants. Besides, it is the basis of the combustion process, and it also contributes to corrosion processes.

Oxygen is the most abundant chemical element on Earth by mass and the third most abundant element in the universe after hydrogen and helium.

What are the uses of oxygen gas?

Medical applications:-

Since oxygen is the basis of human respiration, the use of oxygen in medical applications is of great importance. Oxygen therapy is one of the methods used to treat several lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia, and for some heart diseases, and for any disease that requires a need to take gaseous oxygen to avoid the occurrence of hypoxia.

On this basis, the injured are provided with additional amounts of oxygen in emergency and critical situations. 

On the other hand, and according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, oxygen inhalation is one of the appropriate means for treating cluster headaches.

 The amount of oxygen in the blood can be monitored by oximetry or by measuring the level of arterial blood gases.

Hyperbaric medicine uses special chambers called the hyperbaric chamber, which supplies high partial pressures of O2 oxygen gas into which the patient in need of treatment is placed, and sometimes the medical staff when required. This method is used to treat conditions such as carbon monoxide poisoning, gas gangrene (or gaseous death), and decompression sickness. For example, in the case of carbon monoxide poisoning, raising the concentrations of oxygen gas O2 in the lungs helps to remove carbon monoxide from the heme group of hemoglobin. In the case of gas gangrene, the oxygen gas is toxic to the anaerobic bacteria that cause the disease, so increasing the partial pressure of oxygen helps to get rid of it. Those who do not gradually reduce pressure, which leads to the formation of bubbles of inert gases of nitrogen and helium inside the blood, which affects the dissolution of oxygen in the blood.

Oxygen therapy requires the presence of equipment and sources that provide oxygen, and it is usually done in the form of oxygen gas cylinders in the form of an oxygen tent, which has been replaced at present in hospitals and treatment centers with oxygen masks, which can be placed in the form of a muzzle or nasal channels connected to the ventilator. In some cases, oxygen may be required through a breathing tube that enters the trachea through an incision in the front of the neck.

Respiratory gas: -

what is the importance of oxygen as respiratory gas?

The supply of low-pressure pure oxygen gas is one of the most important components of the spacesuit.

The vital importance of oxygen makes it an important component of life support devices in applications in which oxygen enters in the form of respiratory gas in many areas.

Astronauts need oxygen gas for their flights, and oxygen is supplied in space suits in the form of a gas surrounding their body with compressed air, in which the oxygen pressure is reduced by about a third of the value of the systemic pressure, in a way that ensures the presence of a natural partial pressure of oxygen gas O2 in their bloodstream.

the importance of oxygen to drivers:-

Divers and submarine crews rely on artificially generated oxygen to provide breathing gas, which often comes in the form of a mixture of oxygen and air under systemic pressure. Pure or near-pure oxygen is used in diving to accelerate decompression at shallow depths at the end of professional or technical diving, and it is safe to use for depths of up to 6 meters (the maximum depth for pure use) for decompression or relief situations Wounded from emergency divers at these depths. The oxygen gas needs to be extended with inert gases such as nitrogen and helium to dive to greater depths, to avoid the occurrence of oxygen poisoning.

Flight aircraft are provided with a reserve of oxygen gas O2, which is automatically secured in the event of a decrease in room pressure. The sudden pressure drop activates the oxygen generators above each seat, as the oxygen masks slide from the top. When the tapes that allow the flow of oxygen are withdrawn, a powder of iron is released into a solution of sodium chlorate inside a package in the mask so that the heat-diffusing chemical reaction allows oxygen generation.

Industrial applications: -

Most of the commercially produced oxygen O2 gas is used for smelting iron ore and steel production.

About 55% of commercially produced oxygen O2 is used to smelt iron ore into steel.

Oxygen gas is injected through a high-pressure pipe into the molten iron to remove sulfur impurities and excess carbon, in the form of corresponding oxides SO2 and CO2, respectively. These oxidation reactions are exothermic, so the temperature increases to 1700 ° C.

The chemical industries consume about 25% of commercial oxygen production. Ethylene reacts with oxygen gas O2 to produce ethylene oxide, which in turn is converted into ethylene glycol, which is considered a very important raw material in the manufacture of plastics and tissues.

As for the remaining 20%   of commercially produced oxygen, it is consumed in several areas, including medical applications, as an oxidant in rocket fuel, in addition to its use in the field of water treatment. Oxygen is also used in gas welding, where burning acetylene gas with oxygen causes a high-temperature flame, which contributes to the process of cutting metal fittings when passing large quantities of oxygen gas.

Miscellaneous:-

what is the meaning of miscellaneous?

Since the mid-nineties of the twentieth century, there have been bars in Japan and the United States of America that provide their patrons with additional amounts of oxygen for recreation in exchange for a certain fee. Athletes have also used additional amounts of oxygen in some sports, such as American football, to enhance performance.

 The physiological effect of such matters is questionable, as it is often believed that this is due to the placebo effect.

Risks:-

National Fire Protection Association Standard 704 rates compressed oxygen gas as non-hazardous to health, non-flammable, non-reactive, but oxidizing. Freezing liquid oxygen (LOX) has been given a health hazard rating of 3 (because it increases the risk of hyperoxia with its reaction from dense vapors, and also for the common risk of cryogenic liquids such as frostbite), and all other assessments are the same as the compressed gas model.

Toxicity of oxygen: -

what is the meaning of oxygen toxicity?

O2 can be toxic at high partial pressures, which may lead to convulsions and other health problems. The phenomenon of oxygen poisoning begins to appear at partial pressures above 50 kilopascals, which is equivalent to 50% of the oxygen under normal conditions, which is about 2.5 times the normal value at sea level. Therefore, the percentage of oxygen in respiratory gas applications for hospitals or spacesuits is usually around 30 kPa.

As for diving, the risk of oxygen poisoning is high, as prolonged breathing of a mixture of air containing a partial pressure of oxygen exceeding 60 kPa can lead to pulmonary fibrosis.
 Exposure to partial pressures of oxygen over 160 kilopascals (about 1.6 atmospheres) can lead to fatal convulsions. A severe case of oxygen poisoning can occur in divers if they breathe a mixture of natural air (21% oxygen at depths of 66m or more, and the same can happen when breathing 100% pure oxygen at a depth of 6 meters or more)
The presence of oxygen in high concentrations may be a cause of explosion hazards. 

This is not due to the oxygen itself, it is not combustible, but rather to the oxidizing nature of this gas, so that its presence near a combustible fuel can lead to explosions when there is a spark or a heat source. 

The same applies to oxidants with high oxygen content, such as peroxides, chlorates, perchlorates, nitrates, and dichromates, as they can release oxygen.
Caution and safety requirements must b

e observed when transporting and storing liquid oxygen, to reduce the risk of explosion.
 Also, the spillage and absorption of liquid oxygen from organic materials such as wood or asphalt can cause these materials to suddenly explode when subjected to successive mechanical shocks. As with other deep-cooled fluids, there are risks of catching a cold bite to the skin or eyes.