10 Oxygen Facts

Here are 10 interesting facts about the element oxygen. You can find more oxygen facts on the element's periodic table facts page.

1. Animals and plants require oxygen for respiration.

2. Oxygen gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.

3. Liquid and solid oxygen are pale blue.

4. Oxygen is a non-metal.

5. Oxygen gas normally is the divalent molecule O₂. Ozone, O₃, is another form of pure oxygen.

6. Oxygen supports combustion.

7. Oxygen is paramagnetic.

8. Approximately 2/3 of the mass of the human body is oxygen.

9. Excited oxygen is responsible for the bright red and yellow-green colors of the aurora.

10. Oxygen was the atomic weight standard for the other elements until 1961 when it was replaced by carbon 12.