Oxygen is used in everything from medical treatments to rocketry.
During the early 1770s, the work of two scientists -- one from England and one from Sweden -- led to the discovery of oxygen, an element on the periodic table. Through heating several compounds, the scientists found a released gas which aided in combustion. England's Joseph Priestley also noted the element's effect on animal biology when a mouse's life was extended during exposure to oxygen. Oxygen has many functions in our world, not the least of which is sustaining life.
Respiration
Plants and animals rely on oxygen for respiration. Humans and animals inhale oxygen into the lungs or, in the case of amphibians, through gills or the skin. Oxygen powers blood cells before being released as carbon dioxide.
Oxygen therapy is prescribed for patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its related ailments. Though it is a common practice, the American Cancer Society maintains that oxygen therapy has not been proven to fight cancer and can be detrimental to the body.
Metallurgy
The production of steel is reliant upon oxygen. It is used in a blast furnace to turn carbon into carbon dioxide, which reduces the iron oxides to pure iron. Oxygen is also used in torches for cutting and welding. Oxygen reacts with hydrogen or acetylene in torches which can heat to over 5,000 degrees. Such torches can cut through or weld together most metallics.
Rocketry
In its liquid form, oxygen is used as an oxidizing agent in missiles and rockets. The external fuel tank used to lift a space shuttle out of our atmosphere holds about 145,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and about 390,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen. The two elements react in the main engines to generate a maximum thrust of some 512,000 pounds.
Chemical Synthesis
Hydrocarbons are "cracked," or broken apart, by heating them with oxygen. While this method can induce combustion and produce water and carbon dioxide, if the mixture is controlled it can break apart the hydrocarbons to produce acetylene, propylene and ethylene.
Oxygen is also used at plants that treat sewage or purify water. Oxygen is pumped through water, which increases the production of natural bacteria which break down waste products.
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