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 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.
From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
Gather and synthesize information to explain how prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells differ in structure and function, including the methods of asexual and sexual reproduction.