Oxygen — an element of the main subgroup of the sixth group, the second period of the D I Mendeleev periodic system of chemical elements with atomic number 8. The symbol O (lat. Oxygenium). Oxygen is a chemically active nonmetal, the lightest element of the chalcogens group. Simple substance oxygen (CAS-nomer: 7782-44-7).
At normal conditions — gas without color, taste and smell, its molecule consists of two atoms of oxygen (formula O2), therefore it is also called dioxygen.
Liquid oxygen (boiling temp. -182,98 °C) has a light blue color, and when solid it is a crystal of light blue color.
Oxygen supports the processes of breathing, burning, decay
Oxygen is obtained at present in the industry from the air. The main industrial method of producing oxygen is cryogenic distillation. Also well known and successfully applied in industry are oxygen plants based on membrane technology.
Oxygen of industrial production is used in laboratories, and is supplied in steel cylinders under pressure of about 15 MPa.
Use of oxygen
Widespread industrial application of oxygen began in the mid XX century after the invention of turbodetander device for liquefying and separating liquid air.
Metallurgy
Converter method of steel production or stein processing is associated with the use of oxygen. In many metallurgical aggregates oxygen-air mixture is used instead of air for more efficient fuel combustion.
Welding and cutting of metals
Oxygen is widely used for flame cutting and welding metals.
Medicine
Oxygen is used for enrichment of the respiratory gas mixtures in breathing violations, for treatment of asthma, decompression illness, cardiovascular disease, ischemia, hypoxic States, angina, pneumonia, in anesthesia and other medical cases.
In food industry
In the food industry oxygen was as dietary Supplement E948, as a propellant and packaging gas.
