Discuss in your own words the importance of Oxygen to life. What is unique about this molecule that has evolved to be so essential for human life? Do all life forms need oxygen?What mechanisms do we

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Importance of Oxygen to life.Oxygen is a colorless and odorless gas with atomic number 8 on the periodic table. It is the third most abundant element in the world occupying 20 percent of the earth’s atmosphere. Oxygen accounts for 65 percent of body mass. It is, therefore, the most abundant element in the human body. Human beings use oxygen every second of their life. Consequently, it has many benefits to human life. Oxygen is very reactive in its pure state and thus can combine with other elements to form compounds. It readily dissolves in water and therefore is one of the atoms that make up water (H2O). Oxygen plays different vital roles in the human body.
To begin with, oxygen is used for respiration (breathing) process. Every living thing requires oxygen to breathe. People with breathing problems use oxygen in cylinders at the hospital. Oxygen deficient results in the death of human beings. Some people even employ different measure to increase the oxygen level in their body. For instance, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is essential in increasing level in the body as well as addressing other health issues in the body. A laboratory study shows supplemental oxygen in mice helped boosted T-cell count and lived twice than mice with normal oxygen levels ( “High-efficiency oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide catalysed by oxidized carbon materials.” Nature Catalysis Lu, Zhiyi, et al 156).All living things require oxygen for survival. Plants also need oxygen for respiration.

It is also used in the manufacturing of steel in the industries. In the body, oxygen is essential in the breakdown of sugar to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which supplies cells with energy. Astronauts and divers carry with them oxygen cylinders to help the breath. It is because it is impossible to breathe freely in the space and underwater.
In conclusion, oxygen is an essential element for the survival of all living things. It is used in breathing as well as in cellular respiratory processes such as digestion. Lack of oxygen could result in adverse effects including death. Astronauts and divers require oxygen when going to space and underwater respectively. It is because oxygen is essential for human survival.
Notes
Oxygen is useful in extraction of metals.
Body processes cannot take place without oxygen.
Mountaineers and deep sea divers carry oxygen for survival.

Work Cited
Lu, Zhiyi, et al. “High-efficiency oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide
catalysed by oxidized carbon materials.” Nature Catalysis 1.2 (2018): 156.