Oxygen for Kids - what is oxygen made of? where does oxygen come from? what do we use oxygen for?

Oxygen

Oxygen atom
Diagram of an oxygen atom

When a star has changed all of the hydrogen atoms into helium, it turns into a red giant and begins to convert the helium atoms into carbon atoms and oxygen atoms. All of the oxygen in the universe was made inside stars. Then when all the helium is used up, the red giant begins to convert carbon and oxygen into heavier atoms like silicon and iron.

When the red giant star explodes and becomes a supernova, whatever carbon and oxygen atoms are left shoot out of it and can become part of planets like Earth.

An oxygen atom is heavier than a hydrogen or a helium atom, and even heavier than a carbon atom. That's because an oxygen atom has eight protons and eight neutrons, and eight electrons going around the outside.

Oxygen atoms make up almost a quarter of the air on Earth, and they're necessary for all animals (including people) to breathe. Some oxygen atoms combine with carbon atoms to make carbon dioxide, which plants breathe. Other oxygen atoms combine with two hydrogen atoms to make water molecules. Oxygen atoms also react with hydrocarbon molecules or some metals, like magnesium, to make fire, and they can react with other metals, like iron, to make rust.

Experiments with oxygen

To find out more about oxygen and atoms, check out these books from Amazon.com or from your library:

Hydrogen
Helium
Carbon
Iron
Molecules
Electricity
Chemistry
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Cite this page: Carr, Karen (PhD).

Kidipede - History for Kids. 2012.
http://www.scienceforkids.kidipede.com/chemistry/atoms/oxygen.htm