Oxygen is a chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group on the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal, and an oxidizing agent that readily forms oxides with most elements as well as with other compounds.
Oxygen has several important uses:
Oxygen is constantly cycled through the environment in a process known as the oxygen cycle. It involves the production of oxygen through photosynthesis by plants, the consumption of oxygen by animals during respiration, and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and oceans.
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