Oxygen

Oxygen makes up 21% of the earth's atmosphere, supports life and makes combustion possible

Oxygen, O₂ , is a tasteless, colorless, odorless and nonflammable gas. It makes up 21% of the earth's atmosphere, supports life and makes combustion possible. The most abundant of all elements on earth, oxygen comprises 85 percent of its oceans and, as a component of most rocks and minerals, 46 percent of its solid crust. In addition, it constitutes 60 percent of the human body.

Although oxygen itself is nonflammable, it enhances combustion and enables all materials that are flammable in air to burn much more vigorously. These combustion-supporting properties account for its use in many industrial applications.

Oxygen reacts with all elements, except inert gases, to form compounds called oxides. The rate of reaction - known as oxidation - varies. For example, magnesium oxidizes very rapidly, igniting spontaneously in air. However, noble metals, such as gold and platinum, oxidize only at very high temperatures.

At atmospheric pressure, it becomes a liquid at -183^°C.

Oxygen is used in diverse applications covering many industries.

Typical areas of application:

• Metallurgical industry in production of Aluminium and Steel to enrich air and increase combustion temperatures
• Mechanical industry for welding and cutting
• In wastewater treatment to increase capacity and destruction efficiency of waste incinerators
• To increase yield in fish farming
• In health and hospital environment, where medical grade oxygen is vital to the patients emergencies or long-term treatment of patients with respiratory disorder