Oxygen (O)
"Acid Making"
History of Oxygen
Oxygen was discovered in 1774 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele and Joseph Priestley. Discovered in England and Sweden. Scheele heated several compounds including potassium nitrate, manganese oxide, and mercury oxide and found they released a gas which enhanced combustion. See pictures below for discoverers.
Joseph Priestley
Took Carl's work and took it a step further to find the element, Oxygen.
Carl Wilhelm Scheele
Found the red-hot manganese oxide. He called the gas "fire air" due to big sparks it made when it came in contact with hot charcoal dust.
Oxygen Card
As you can see here, Oxygen's atomic number is 8. Oxygen's atomic mass if 15.999. The element symbol is O.
Oxygen
Oxygen has 8 electrons, 8 protons, and 8 neutrons.
Spot at the Table
Oxygen is on the top right-hand corner in the middle.
Isoptopes of Oxygen
Three stable isotopes of Oxygen are 16O, 17O, 18O.
17O
Atomic mass of 17.
16O
Atomic mass of 16.
18O
Atomic mass of 18.
Fun Facts
The name Oxygen comes from the Greek 'oxy genes', meaning acid forming.
Oxygen is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Oxygen is the most abundant chemical element, by mass, in our biosphere, air, sea and land. Oxygen is the third most abundant chemical element in the universe, after hydrogen and helium.
Compounds of Oxygen
Oxygen Properties
Oxygen has a boiling point of -182.9 degrees Celsius. It's melting point is -218.3 degrees Celsius. At room temperature (22 degrees Celsius) Oxygen is a colorless, odorless, gas. Oxygen is NOT flammable. Oxygen is very reactive with Alkali metals. Oxygen's density is 1.429 g/l.
Ways Oxygen is Used
Well, we need oxygen in order to breathe. So that's one thing. Oxygen is necessary for combustion, so for something to burn you need oxygen. One oxygen atom is used to make a water molecule, along with two hydrogen atoms.
Sources Used
- Element Card: Gray, Theodore W. (2008). The Photographic Card Deck of the Elements.
- Elements Book: Gray, Theodore W. (2009). The Elements: A visual exploration of every known atom in the universe. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc.
- http://factspage.blogspot.com/2010/02/14-interesting-facts-about-oxygen.html