atomOXYGENatom

SYMBOL0
ATOMIC NUMBER8
ATOMIC WEIGHT15.999
GROUP NUMBER16
STANDARD STATEGAS
COLOURCOLOURLESS (GAS), BLUE (LIQUID)
DISCOVERED1774 BY SCHEELE AND PRIESTLY IN SWEDEN AND ENGLAND
ORIGIN OF NAMEFROM THE GREEK OXY GENES MEANING ACID FORMING
USES
  • IN OXY ACETYLENE WELDING.
  • RESPIRATION.
  • ROCKET FUEL OXIDANT.
  • IN STEEL MANUFACTURING.
  • FORMING OZONE IN THE OZONE LAYER WHICH PROTECTS US FROM THE SUN'S HARMFUL U.V. RAYS.
ATOMIC RADIUS0.66 * 10-10M
COMPOUNDS
  • O(-II) H2O, H30+, OH- AND OTHER OXIDES.
  • O(-I) H2O2 AND OTHER PEROXIDES.
  • O(0) NH2OH.
  • O(O) 02 AND O3.
  • O(I) O2F3.
  • O(II) OF2.
EFFECTIVE NUCLEAR CHARGE (Slater)4.55
DENSITY2000 KgM-3(SOLID AT M.P.), 1140 KgM-3 (LIQUID AT B.P.), 1.429 KgM-3(GAS AT 273K)
MELTING POINT54.8 K
BOILING POINT 90.188 K
ENTHALPY OF FUSION0.444 KJMol-1
ENTHALPY OF VAPOURISATION6.82 KJMol-1
ISOTOPES0-14 (Radioactive), O-15 (Radioactive), 0-16, 0-17, 0-18
ELECTRON CONFIGURATION1S22S22P4
FIRST IONISATION ENERGY1313.9 KJMol-1
ELECTRON AFFINITY141 KJMol-1
SOURCESTHE ATMOSTPHERE
GENERAL INFORMATIONOXYGEN IS A PARAMAGNETIC LIQUID AND IS VERY REACTIVE, COMBINING WITH MOST ELEMENTS. IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR COMBUSTION AND RESPIRATION AND, IN ITS EXCITED STATES, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COLOURS SEEN IN THE AURORA

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