Oxygen

Oxygen has two important properties: it supports combustion and it supports life. Oxygen has been used in welding and medicine for over a hundred years and in other industries since the 1960’s. Oxygen is used by many other industries in a variety of oxidation processes. Mixed with fuel gases, oxygen provides a heat source for many welding, cutting and metal making processes. Oxygen-enhanced combustion increases productivity and helps to reduce harmful combustion by-products.

Properties

Supports combustion
Colourless
Odourless
Tasteless

Applications

Welding and cutting
Fuel gas oxidant
Controlled-rate and high energy combustion
Enrichment of combustion atmospheres in glass-making, non-ferrous smelting and brick making
Life support
Iron and steel processing
Enhanced fermentation
Rocket fuel mixtures
Water oxygenation for waste water treatment
Odour control
Pulp and paper bleaching

Physical Properties

Oxygen, symbol O, is a slightly magnetic gaseous element. Oxygen is more abundant than any other element on earth.

Three structural forms of oxygen are known. These are:

Ordinary oxygen, containing two atoms per molecule, formula O₂
Ozone, containing three atoms per molecule, formula O₃
A pale blue, nonmagnetic form, O₄, containing four atoms per molecule, which readily breaks down into ordinary oxygen.

Gas	Oxygen
Chemical formula	O₂
Molecular weight	32.0
Gas density	1.429 Kg/m³
SG vapour	1.326
Boiling point	-183°C
Critical temperature	-118.5°C
Critical pressure	50.4 bar

Production

Oxygen is produced by the fractional distillation of liquid air. Air is liquefied and allowed to evaporate. The nitrogen in the liquid air boils off first, leaving the oxygen.

Safety

Oxygen strongly supports combustion and will aid any fire. It is an oxidant and therefore can react with materials to form an oxide producing a violent reaction. There is also a danger of cylinder rupture. For more detail on the hazards associated with oxygen check the Safety Data sheet.

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