No, we cannot see oxygen gas with the naked eye. Oxygen at room temperature is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. [Oxygen is a gas at room temperature and has no colour, smell or taste].24-Jan-2019
However, this doesn't mean we can never detect it. We can observe its effects and utilize specialized technology to indirectly "see" it.
Indirect Observation of Oxygen:
- Observing its effects: We can't see oxygen directly, but we see the results of its presence. For example, things burn much more readily in pure oxygen than in air [ELI5: How do scientists see oxygen molecules, and how do they put ...].
- Liquid Oxygen: Liquid oxygen, a different state of the element, is visible, appearing as a pale blue liquid [What would happen if we could see oxygen with the naked eye ...].
- Ozone: Ozone (O3), a variant of oxygen, contributes to the blue color of the sky [Why can't we see oxygen? - Quora]. This is an indirect observation; we see the result of ozone's interaction with light, not the ozone itself.
- Specialized Technology: Advanced tools like electron microscopes can visualize individual oxygen atoms within specific materials [Oxygen atoms made directly visible in the electron microscope]. This is not seeing oxygen gas in its free state, but it allows visualization of the atom itself in certain contexts.
- Blood Oxygen Measurement: Devices like Apple Watches and Fitbits measure blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) indirectly, providing a measure of how much oxygen is bound to hemoglobin in the blood, but they don't actually show you the oxygen itself [How to use the Blood Oxygen app on Apple Watch - Apple Support, How do I track blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) with my Fitbit device ...].
Misconceptions:
It's crucial to distinguish between seeing oxygen gas directly and observing its effects or visualizing oxygen atoms through high-powered technology. Many methods for "seeing" oxygen involve seeing its effects on other materials or its presence in a different state (liquid). Claims of seeing gaseous oxygen with the naked eye are incorrect.
