Oxygen's basic use is to support life. It's an essential element for almost all living organisms.
The Vital Role of Oxygen in Life
Oxygen plays a crucial role in cellular respiration. As the American Museum of Natural History explains, our cells use oxygen to break down food, producing the energy needed for survival. This process, known as aerobic respiration, is fundamental to life as we know it. Without oxygen, our cells would be unable to efficiently generate the energy required for bodily functions. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that oxygen is a life-saving essential medicine used to treat respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19 and pneumonia.
Other Uses
While its primary role is biological, oxygen also has many industrial applications:
- Welding and Cutting: Oxygen is used in oxy-acetylene welding and cutting of metals, as noted by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
- Wastewater Treatment: A growing use is in treating sewage and industrial effluent. (RSC)
- Steelmaking: The basic oxygen furnace uses oxygen to lower the carbon content in molten pig iron, producing low-carbon steel. (Wikipedia)
- Medical Applications: Beyond treating respiratory illnesses, oxygen is used in hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to treat conditions like stroke and traumatic brain injury. (NCBI)
- Cleaning Products: Some cleaning products utilize oxygen as a cleaning agent. (Branch Basics)
The provided instructions on using oxygen equipment for medical purposes (FAA) underscore its importance in healthcare. These instructions emphasize the importance of proper equipment use and maintenance.
