Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Oxygen is a chemical element with symbol O and atomic number 8. It's essential for life on Earth because it's part of water molecules and used by cells for respiration process.
Related terms
Oxidation Reaction: A reaction where atoms lose electrons or gain oxygen atoms.