7 characteristics and properties of OXYGEN

Oxygen is a chemical element on the periodic table, the element that allowed the aerobic form of life on our planet Earth, and became essential for life. Oxygen constitutes one fifth of the earth's atmosphere, in this article by a Professor we are going to describe in more detail the characteristics and properties of oxygen.

We are going to discover, now, the oxygen properties. Take note!

physical properties

Oxygen is a diatomic compound, which Under normal conditions it is in the form of a gas. it is highly electromagnetic and soluble in water. Due to its solubility capacity, oxygen is found in an adequate concentration in water, this allows the existence of living beings that managed to adapt to obtaining it through gill systems, an example are fish and octopus.

That solubility is proportionally related to water temperature Therefore, an increase in atmospheric temperature can reduce oxygen concentrations in water sources, this is one of the serious consequences that global warming can cause global.

Oxygen is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas. It has the property of changing from a gas to a liquid at -182.96 °C and it can freeze, that is, to go from liquid to solid at a temperature of -218.4 °C, when this physical process occurs, oxygen acquires a color blue. It is not a good conductor of heat and electricity.

Chemical properties

Oxygen has the ability to be very reactive, so it is able to form links with other elements, in this way it forms a wide variety of chemical compounds. In turn, it has a fundamental role in combustion, since it is flammable, in the presence of oxygen organic and inorganic compounds can burn, releasing energy.

In the atmosphere, most of the oxygen is found allotropically. He ozone O3 is another allotrope which is produced due to the action of UV rays in the upper zone of the atmosphere and this is much more reactive than molecular O2. Ozone is crucial to protect the earth from UV rays emitted by the sun, which are harmful to health.

This element, as we already said, It is vital for the development of life, all actions involve the use of this gas. However, it is also used by man at the level of industry, medicine and chemistry.

The oxygen uses are the following:

• In the medicine It is used either as oxygenation therapy for patients with respiratory pathologies such as cardiac, in surgical procedures and in the health care industry, among many other functions. There is a therapy called ozone therapy which is based on the use of ozone as a medicine for the treatment of different pathologies, mainly diseases and for chronic pain, since it produces analgesia and is anti-inflammatory, this is because it works by reducing free radicals free.
• In metallurgical industry It is mainly used for the production of steel and other metals. In the textile industry it also has its uses.
• As it has a very low freezing point, it is used as cryogenic liquid and this has multiple industrial, medical and food uses.
• Ozone is also used to treat wastewater, for the purification of water and sterilization of indoor environments, mainly in the food industry.

Fernando García-Carreño, Arturo Sánchez Paz, María de los Ángeles Navarrete del Toro (2016). “Oxidation, duality life and death”. Natural Resources and Society. Vol. 2 (2): 12-23