Key points
Oxygen is a non-metal element that is a gas at room temperature. Its molecules contain two oxygen atoms.
Oxygen is vital for respiration, which is the process that transforms energy from glucose to energy for cells.
Oxygen is necessary for burning to occur. However, burning will only happen when the mixture of fuel and oxygen is hot enough.
How is oxygen used by our bodies?
A short video explaining how oxygen can be used to help the body.
How is oxygen useful?
Oxygen is a A substance that has the typical properties of a non-metal. Non-metal elements are on the right hand side of the periodic table. element and is found naturally as a Two or more atoms which are strongly bonded together. The smallest particle of a substance that has all of the physical and chemical properties of that substance.. Each molecule is made up of two oxygen The smallest particle of an element. We often think of atoms as tiny spheres, but in fact they are made from smaller particles called protons, neutrons and electrons. that are strongly joined together.
Oxygen has low The highest temperature at which a substance can exist as a solid. For solid water (ice), the melting point is 0 掳C. and The highest temperature at which a substance can exist as a liquid. Evaporation happens rapidly when a liquid reaches boiling point., so it is in a One of the three states of matter. Gases, like oxygen or helium, do not have a fixed shape and can expand to fill their container. state at room temperature.
A rotating model of an oxygen molecule.
Vital for life
When animals breathe in, oxygen molecules enter the lungs and pass through the lung walls into the blood. The blood carries oxygen to the cells of the body, where it takes part in a chemical reaction with glucose. This chemical reaction is called The chemical process that occurs inside the cells of most living things, when glucose reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water..
Respiration happens all the time in every living thing: it is how the cells receive energy. If an animal or plant does not have enough oxygen, it will not be able to respire and will die.
Burning
If the temperature is high enough, many substances will burn in oxygen.
When a substance burns, it reacts with oxygen: this happens in wood fires and also in car engines, which burn petrol. The chemical reaction transfers energy in order to make the engine work. The scientific word for burning is This is the scientific word for burning. It is where a substance reacts with oxygen from the air and transfers energy to the surroundings by heating and light..
Play the Atomic Labs game! game
Try out practical experiments in this KS3 science game.
More on Atoms, elements and compounds
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