Changes in Materials Due to Oxygen

Diatomic Oxygen = Two atoms of oxygen

​Diatomic Oxygen is 20.95% of the earth's atmosphere.

Living things make use of oxygen.

For humans, oxygen is important to health, recreation, medicine, space exploration, manufacturing, etc.

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Oxygen

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Combustion means burning.

Ex. When magnesium metal reacts with the oxygen in the air, they create magnesium oxide (MgO).

Combustion produces fire.​

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Combustion

Iron or iron alloys can lose electrons when exposed to oxygen.

This reaction is called oxidation and it produces rust.​

Rusting makes metal weak and brittle.

​Corrosion is the deterioration of metals because of chemical reactions.

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​Oxidation

​A picture of a shipwreck rusting underwater.

Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from the remains of dead organisms.

When we burn fossil fuels, they produce carbon dioxide - a greenhouse gas.​

Greenhouse gases cause climate change.

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Emission of Carbon Dioxide

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