Edit page | Page history | Printable version

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:

• Oxygen consumption
• Home oxygen therapy
• Oxygen toxicity
• Oxygen affinity anoxia
• Dissolved oxygen
• Oxygen Debt
• Oxygen Cycle