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.
Analyze and interpret data for patterns of change in anatomical structures of organisms using the fossil record and the chronological order of fossil appearance in rock layers.