# OXYGEN 

**Published by:** [Nature](https://paragraph.com/@nature-5/)
**Published on:** 2023-03-23
**URL:** https://paragraph.com/@nature-5/oxygen

## Content

Alex: 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 and is a highly reactive nonmetallic element. By mass, oxygen is the third-most abundant element in the universe, after hydrogen and helium. At standard temperature and pressure, two atoms of the element bind to form dioxygen, a colorless and odorless diatomic gas with the formula O2. Diatomic oxygen gas constitutes 20.8% of the Earth's atmosphere. As compounds including oxides, the element makes up almost half of the Earth's crust.

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