OXYGEN Definition & Meaning

oxygen

[ ok-si-juhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Chemistry.

a colorless, odorless, gaseous element constituting about one-fifth of the volume of the atmosphere and present in a combined state in nature. It is the supporter of combustion in air and was the standard of atomic, combining, and molecular weights until 1961, when carbon 12 became the new standard. : O; : 15.9994; : 8; density: 1.4290 grams/liter at 0°C and 760 millimeter pressure.

oxygen

/ ɒkˈsɪdʒɪnəs; ˌɒksɪˈdʒɛnɪk; ˈɒksɪdʒən /

noun

1. a colourless odourless highly reactive gaseous element: the most abundant element in the earth's crust (49.2 per cent). It is essential for aerobic respiration and almost all combustion and is widely used in industry. Symbol: O; atomic no: 8; atomic wt: 15.9994; valency: 2; density: 1.429 kg/m³; melting pt: –218.79°C; boiling pt: –182.97°C
2. ( as modifier )
  an oxygen mask

oxygen

/ ŏ��′��ĭ-��ə�� /

A nonmetallic element that exists in its free form as a colorless, odorless gas and makes up about 21 percent of the Earth's atmosphere. It is the most abundant element in the Earth's crust and occurs in many compounds, including water, carbon dioxide, and iron ore. Oxygen combines with most elements, is required for combustion, and is essential for life in most organisms. Atomic number 8; atomic weight 15.9994; melting point −218.8°C; boiling point −182.9°C; gas density at 0°C 1.429 grams per liter; valence 2.
See Periodic Table

oxygen

An element , normally a gas , that makes up about one-fifth of the atmosphere of the Earth . Oxygen is usually found as a molecule made up of two atoms . Its symbol is O.

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Notes

Oxygen is a waste product of green plants and photosynthesis .

When we breathe in oxygen, it is carried by the hemoglobin in our blood throughout the body, where it is used to generate energy by oxidation . ( See respiration .)

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Derived Forms

oxygenic, adjective

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Other �y��vlog Forms

�ǳ�·��·��·�� [ok-si-, jen, -ik], �ǳ�·�ⲵ·��·�Դǳܲ� [ok-, sij, -, uh, -n, uh, s], adjective
�ǳ�·��·��·��·i·ty [ok-si-j, uh, -, nis, -i-tee], noun

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of oxygen¹

First recorded in 1780–90; from French �ǳ�ⲵè�Ա�, equivalent to oxy- + -��è�Ա�; oxy- ¹, -gen

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�y��vlog History

In 1786, the French chemist Antoine Lavoisier coined a term for the element oxygen ( �ǳ�ⲵè�Ա� in French). He used Greek words for the coinage: �ǳ��– means “sharp,” and –g�� means “producing.” Oxygen was called the “sharp-producing” element because it was thought to be essential for making acids. Lavoisier also coined the name of the element hydrogen, the “water-producing” element, in 1788. Soon after, in 1791, another French chemist, J. A. Chaptal, introduced the word nitrogen , the “niter-producing” element, referring to its discovery from an analysis of nitric acid.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

On Tuesday, for the first time during his new administration, Donald Trump failed to suck all of the media oxygen out of the room.

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Sewage also poses significant environmental risks – it increases nutrients in the water leading to algal blooms which then eventually denies other wildlife – like fish - oxygen.

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The wrongful death legal case claims the four children died attempting a so-called "blackout challenge", where participants hold their breath until they pass out because of a lack of oxygen.

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That allows the oxygen to move beneath the grass while preventing the field and the root zone from getting too wet.

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Once the energy is in our atmosphere, reactions with oxygen and nitrogen then bring the colours we associate with the aurora.

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