THE BEECHMONT CREST SCIENCE ZONE
LEARNING THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS
Oxygen
Name origin: Greek oxys + genes = “acid former”
Symbol: O
Atomic number: 8
Atomic weight: 15.9994
- Oxygen exists as a colorless, odorless gas, or a pale blue liquid. It is essential for sustaining life on earth. About 20% of the earth’s atmosphere consists of diatomic oxygen gas.
- There are two oxygen allotropes: O2 and O3. O3 is known as ozone. Ozone is an oxidizing agent; it is commonly used in disinfectants.
- Commercially produced oxygen is distilled from liquid air. Oxygen is commonly used in the steel manufacturing industry.
- The ten most common compounds in the earth’s crust all contain oxygen. These include silicon dioxide and magnesium oxide.
