Hobbies And Interests
Proportions
Oxygen accounts for approximately 21 percent of the Earth's atmosphere. The gas and its compounds account for 49.2 percent of the Earth's crust. The human body consists of about 65 percent oxygen; 90 percent of water is made up of the gas. Oxygen is a component of thousands of organic compounds. Scientists can separate oxygen from water by electrolysis, or by adding manganese (IV) oxide, but its origin is from one place, plants.
Human Need
When we inhale, millions of tiny air sacs in our lungs called alveoli inflate. The blood near the sacs are enriched with air and distributed throughout the body by the capillaries. The red blood cells bring the oxygen to every part of the body, supplying the organs with the vital gas. At the same time, veins absorb the carbon dioxide (CO2) that is produced from the digestive process. CO2 is then released out of the alveoli, through the lungs and into the air.
Undersupply
Some people develop asthma from pollution, such as smog, ozone, fumes and industrial fogs, because these elements lower the amount of oxygen in the air, creating breathing problems for some. This results in weariness, headaches, listlessness and fatigue. This becomes a greater problem as people age. When a person is between 20 and 30 years old, her lung capacity is 5.6 liters, but after 70 years, the maximum is 2.8 liters.
Commercial Use
All plants and animals rely on oxygen for survival. It is also needed for every type of combustion. Oxygen is most commonly used commercially for oxygenating steel blast furnaces. The gas is used to make synthesis gas for ammonia and methanol, ethylene oxide and oxyacetylene welding and slicing metals. Oxygen is mechanically introduced to working areas prone to dust, smell and dirt, such as at construction sites and in nightclubs.