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Oxygen Basics Cheat Sheet

by 7kokcmax71

1. General Information

  • Symbol: O
  • Atomic Number: 8
  • Atomic Mass: 15.999 u
  • Group: 16 (Chalcogens)
  • Period: 2
  • Block: p-block
  • Electron Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁴
  • Valence Electrons: 6
  • Phase at Room Temperature: Gas

2. Isotopes of Oxygen

Isotope Protons Neutrons Abundance Notes
¹⁶O 8 8 99.76% Stable and most abundant.
¹⁷O 8 9 0.04% Stable, used in research.
¹⁸O 8 10 0.20% Stable, used in paleoclimate studies.

3. Physical Properties

  • Color: Colorless
  • Odor: Odorless
  • Density: 1.429 g/L (at STP)
  • Melting Point: -218.8°C
  • Boiling Point: -183.0°C
  • State at STP: Gas
  • Form: Diatomic molecule (O₂)

4. Chemical Properties

  • Highly Reactive – Supports combustion and combines readily with most elements.
  • Oxidizer: Causes other substances to burn.
  • Forms Oxides: Combines with metals and non-metals to form oxides.
  • Allotropes:
    • O₂ (Molecular Oxygen): Essential for life and respiration.
    • O₃ (Ozone): Protects Earth from UV radiation.

Combustion Reaction:

C + O₂ → CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide)  
4Fe + 3O₂ → 2Fe₂O₃ (Rust)  

5. Occurrence and Abundance

  • Third most abundant element in the universe.
  • On Earth:
    • Atmosphere: 21% by volume.
    • Crust: 46% (in oxides and silicates).
    • Oceans: 85% (in water molecules).
    • Living Organisms: Component of water, proteins, and DNA.

6. Industrial Production of Oxygen

  • Fractional Distillation: Separation from liquid air.
  • Electrolysis of Water: Splitting H₂O into hydrogen and oxygen.
  • Chemical Methods: Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂).

7. Uses of Oxygen

Application Description
Respiration and Medicine Life support in hospitals and oxygen tanks.
Combustion and Energy Supports burning of fuels in engines and rockets.
Steel Production Used to remove impurities from molten iron.
Water Treatment Ozone (O₃) purifies and disinfects water.
Chemical Industry Oxidizer in the production of chemicals.
Spacecraft and Aviation Breathing systems and fuel oxidizer.

8. Oxygen Compounds

Compound Formula Use
Water H₂O Essential for all known life forms.
Carbon Dioxide CO₂ Photosynthesis, respiration.
Ozone O₃ Protects Earth from UV radiation.
Iron Oxide (Rust) Fe₂O₃ Corrosion product of iron.
Silicon Dioxide SiO₂ Glass, sand, and ceramics.

9. Biological Importance of Oxygen

  • Essential for Cellular Respiration:
    C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + Energy (ATP)  
    
  • Photosynthesis:
    • Plants produce oxygen by splitting water during photosynthesis.
    6CO₂ + 6H₂O + Light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂  
    
  • Component of Water and Organic Molecules – Crucial for life processes.

10. The Ozone Layer (O₃)

  • Formation:
    O₂ + UV → 2O → O₂ + O → O₃  
    
  • Protects Earth by absorbing harmful UV radiation.
  • Depletion:
    • Caused by CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), leading to environmental concerns.

11. Safety and Hazards

  • Supports Combustion: Increases fire risk in high concentrations.
  • Oxygen Toxicity: Breathing pure oxygen at high pressures can cause lung damage.
  • Cryogenic Burns: Liquid oxygen can cause severe frostbite.

Fun Facts About Oxygen:

  • Oxygen makes up 65% of the human body by mass (mostly in water).
  • The blue color of the sky is due to oxygen and nitrogen scattering sunlight.
  • Fish extract oxygen from water using gills.
  • Oxygen was discovered independently by Carl Wilhelm Scheele and Joseph Priestley in the 18th century.

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