Oxygen Facts for Kids

Oxygen Periodic Table
  • Name: Oxygen
  • Symbol: O
  • Atomic Number: 8
  • Atomic Weight: 15.999 u
  • Period: 2
  • Group: 16

22 Oxygen Facts for Kids

  1. Oxygen is a chemical element on the periodic table.
  2. Oxygen was discovered in 1771, by Swedish pharmacist Carl Wilhelm Scheele.
  3. Oxygen was given its name in 1777, by French chemist Antoine Lavoisier.
  4. Oxygen is a gas at room temperature.
  5. Oxygen is odorless, tasteless and colorless.
  6. The symbol for oxygen is O.
  7. The atomic number for oxygen is 8.
  8. The standard atomic weight for oxygen is 15.999 u.
  9. Oxygen is in the reactive nonmetal element category on the periodic table.
  10. Oxygen is a period 2 chemical element, which is the second row on the periodic table.
  11. Oxygen is a group 16 chemical element, which is the chalcogen group.
  12. Oxygen has three stable isotopes and they are 16O, 17O and 18O.
  13. The melting point for oxygen is -361.82 °F (-218.79 °C).
  14. The boiling point for oxygen is -297.332 °F (-182.692 °C).
  15. Oxygen is the 3rd most abundant element found in the universe.
  16. Oxygen makes up between 20 and 21% of the Earth’s atmosphere.
  17. Most living organisms on Earth need to breathe oxygen to live.
  18. Oxygen has medicinal purposes and is used to treat people with respiratory and heart issues.
  19. Oxygen has industrial purposes and is used in the steel making process.
  20. Oxygen is used in space travel, underwater diving and submarines.
  21. Water is made up of two-parts hydrogen and one-part oxygen.
  22. Plants produce oxygen through a process known as photosynthesis.

Additional Resources on Oxygen

  • Facts About Oxygen – Find more oxygen facts for kids on the Live Science website.
  • Oxygen – RSC – Read more about oxygen on the Royal Society of Chemistry website.
  • Oxygen – Britannica – Learn more about the oxygen chemical element on the Britannica website.
  • Oxygen – Wikipedia – Discover some facts you didn’t know about oxygen on the Wikipedia website.

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