Home Forum Dictionary Articles Tutorials Books Directory Share your work


Edit page | Page history | Printable version

Dictionary » O » Oxygen

Oxygen

Definition

noun

(chemistry) A colorless, tasteless, oderless, gaseous element that abounds in the atmosphere.


Supplement

In chemistry, oxygen is an element with an atomic weight of 15.96. It is capable of combining with all elements, with the exception of fluorine, to form oxides, bases, oxyacid anhydrides, etc. At room temperature, oxygen is only moderately active with most substances. However, at higher temperatures, it becomes very active that it is considered as one of the most powerful chemical agents.

In biology, the oxygen plays a crucial role in various biochemical and physiological processes, such as in cellular respiration. Its presence makes cellular respiration about ten times more efficient in yielding ATP.

Oxygen is also thought to have a therapeutic role especially to treating or managing ischemic tissues.


Word origin: F. Oxygene, from Gr. Sharp, acid _ root of to be born; named by Lavoisier as he supposed it to be a constituent of al 1000 l acids
Related forms: oxygenic (adjective)

Symbol: O

Related terms:


Please contribute to this project, if you have more information about this term feel free to edit this page



Results from our forum


Co2 from respiration-Sugars vs Fats

C18H36O18 vs C18H36O2, sugar has 16 extra oxygen, so 16O pick up 8C and make 8CO2?

See entire post
by key
Wed Feb 13, 2013 12:12 am
 
Forum: Human Biology
Topic: Co2 from respiration-Sugars vs Fats
Replies: 12
Views: 788

What are some reasons that prove adaptations are not designe

... doesn't like homosexuality, why is there a genetic basis for it? If god doesn't like death, why did he make us reliant upon that which decays us (oxygen)?

See entire post
by wildfunguy
Sat Feb 09, 2013 4:54 pm
 
Forum: Evolution
Topic: What are some reasons that prove adaptations are not designe
Replies: 5
Views: 789

Energy; respiration and photosynthesis

Hello Members, Living cells respire. Aerobic respiration is the chemical reaction used to release energy from glucose. It is called aerobic because oxygen from the air is also needed. Plant cells respire, just as animal cells do. If they stop respiring, they will die. Remember that respiration is ...

See entire post
by AlexJohns
Tue Jan 15, 2013 4:05 am
 
Forum: Ecology
Topic: Energy; respiration and photosynthesis
Replies: 2
Views: 620

Re: Why do Africans have large noses and lips?

... one half of the world. What common factors forged the similar change. Maybe jungle/desert/frozen habits are quite similar and food/water sources, oxygen requirements or enhanced scent tracking forced the mutation.

See entire post
by jelpmac
Wed Jan 02, 2013 12:40 pm
 
Forum: Human Biology
Topic: Why do Africans have large noses and lips?
Replies: 28
Views: 115711

Mangrove Swamps

... land level, as is the case in much of Louisiana) is a problem for mangroves. As one example, areal roots need to be out of the water to provide oxygen to the plant. Coastal development often prevents mangroves from moving landward as sea level rises. For more: http://www.coastalwiki.org/coastalwiki/Potential_Impacts_of_Sea_Level_Rise_on_Mangroves

See entire post
by danactsalot
Wed Dec 12, 2012 1:58 am
 
Forum: Ecology
Topic: Mangrove Swamps
Replies: 7
Views: 6860
View all matching forum results

This page was last modified 00:03, 1 October 2009. This page has been accessed 25,506 times. 
What links here | Related changes | Permanent link