Oksügeeni

Oksügeeni is the Finnish word for oxygen. Oxygen is a chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table and is the most abundant element in the Earth's crust and atmosphere. Oxygen is highly reactive and readily forms oxides with most elements. In its diatomic form, O2, it is a colorless, odorless gas essential for most life on Earth, as it is a key component of cellular respiration. In this form, it makes up about 21% of the Earth's atmosphere. Another allotrope of oxygen is ozone, O3, which is a gas that plays a crucial role in absorbing ultraviolet radiation from the sun in the Earth's stratosphere.

Industrially, oxygen is produced mainly through the cryogenic distillation of air. It is used in a wide range of applications, including in medicine for respiratory therapy, in metallurgy for steel production and welding, and as an oxidizer in rocket propellants. The discovery of oxygen is credited to Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1772 and Joseph Priestley in 1774, independently. Antoine Lavoisier later established its role in combustion and respiration, coining the name "oxygen."