Oxygen is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas that supports life and combustion. All elements, except rare gases, react with oxygen over a wide range of temperatures, to form oxides. Oxygen is 1.1 times heavier than air and is slightly soluble in water. Liquid oxygen is a clear blue liquid.
From a distance the atmosphere around the earth is blue in colour.
The major uses of oxygen are based on its combustion-sustaining; oxidizing and life-supporting attributes. Whether used directly or to enrich combustion air, oxygen is widely used with fuel gases in furnaces, smelters, kilns, welding and metal cutting. Oxygen is used in chemical production as a raw material and in pulp manufacturing as a bleaching agent.
Oxygen is in a key position when aiming for lowering the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere. The vital thing here will be to capture carbon dioxide from the fume gases at coal fired power plants. Pure oxygen technologies are then needed for technical and economical reasons. Because of this, oxygen production may in the future be increased radically.
Space rockets strong engines operate on fuel and pure oxygen stored in liquid form.
Most importantly, oxygen is used for medical reasons to save and protect life.
