Liquid oxygen

Liquid Oxygen

Liquid oxygen, also known as LOX, is oxygen in its liquid state. It is pale blue in color and is extremely reactive. It is used in various applications, including medical and industrial uses.

Properties

Liquid oxygen has a boiling point of -183 degrees Celsius. It is a powerful oxidizer and is highly reactive with organic material. It can cause spontaneous combustion in the presence of flammable substances.

Production

Liquid oxygen is produced by the liquefaction and distillation of ambient air. The air is first cooled and compressed, then passed through a series of filters to remove impurities. The purified air is then cooled further until it liquefies. The liquid oxygen is then separated from the other components of the air by distillation.

Uses

Liquid oxygen is used in a variety of applications. In the medical field, it is used in oxygen therapy to treat conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. In the industrial sector, it is used in steelmaking and welding. It is also used as an oxidizer in rocket propulsion.

Safety

Due to its highly reactive nature, liquid oxygen must be handled with care. It should be stored in a cool, well-ventilated area away from flammable substances. It should also be handled using equipment that is designed to withstand the cold temperatures of liquid oxygen.

See also

• Oxygen therapy
• Liquefaction
• Distillation

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  Liquid oxygen in a beaker
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  Liquid oxygen in a magnet
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  Liquid oxygen, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan
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  Liquid oxygen
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  Liquid Oxygen (LOX) ball at the CCAFS SLC-40