Sohail Afridi
3 min readJun 18, 2024

Oxygen: essential element for life and industry :

Introduction:

The element name is Oxygen and its sign is a capital O with atomic number 8; Oxygen is necessary for biological organisms and can also be used in an industrial manner. This is an odourless gas that is colourless and largely released at room temperature with no taste and makes up about 21% of Earth’s atmosphere. Such chemical element as oxygen and its high reactivity of the element do make this gas compulsory in sustaining life in the Earth and in certain industries or fields.

Biological Importance:

Oxygen is one of the most important components used by majority of living creatures at various living conditions. It is used in a process that is called cellular respiration in which cells create energyinside the cell. In this course, oxygen circulating in the blood stream helps to oxidize glucose that gives out adenosine triphosphate, water and carbon dioxide. This energy is called ATP and is needed for pretty much all processes that happen within our cells in the body. Also, oxygen is produced through photosynthesis by plant, algae, and chemo-autotrophic bacteria where components of C, O2, H2O are synthesizes to glucose and O2 using sun as a source of energy. It does practically support the upkeep of plant life while recycling oxygen back into the earth for the aerobic type of existence.

Medical Applications:

In medical, oxygen in the practice of oxygen administration as a treatment for patients with breathing disorders which span from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, asthma and many others. It is also used in emergency operations theater particularly when anesthesia is necessary and in life supporting equipments. Besides this, oxygen is used in the form of oxygen enriched air in the patients and in order to meet the required oxygen requirement of the patients it is supplied to the patients especially during surgery and in Intensive unit.

Industrial Uses:

One could never overstate the role of oxygen in industrial processes as it is one of the most invaluable components of industrial processes. In organization, it is used in the desulfurization process of coke, which is removing sulfur using blast furnaces to strip sulfur from iron and provide high-quality steel from coal-fired power plant. Oxygen is the fourth largest industry demand, sulfur trioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ethylene oxide and oxidation processes all require oxygen. In wastewater treatment process that is used to make water cleaner is that oxygen needs to be added so that the aerobic bacteria can take more work of breaking down more of organic matter.

Environmental Role:

I think we can speak about oxygen as one of the factors that affect the climate of the Earth and contribute to its stabilization. The atmospheric layer familiar as ozone is comprised of the formula O₃, and its purpose is protecting life on earth from deadly ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, oxygen naturally participates in oxidative reactions, pollutant and organic compounds’ decomposition, being a part of processes contributing to the determination of the environmental safety.

Conclusion:

In Oxygen cycle Oxygen has the role in Biological, medical, industrial and environmental level. Cyanide is used in the process of breathing and photosynthesis hence is an important ingredient in life; it is also used in treating medical ailments and in industries which proves that it is a useful item in the society. Nevertheless, the information concerning oxygen and its propensity is still necessary for people’s further evolution and healthy live, as well as for the health of the Earth as of now.

Thanks for reading…

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