Oxygen is essential for life as we know it. All living organisms, including plants and animals, require oxygen to survive. Oxygen is used by cells in the process of respiration, during which glucose and other molecules are broken down to produce energy. This energy is then used to power the functions of the body, including growth, repair, and movement.
Oxygen is also important in many industrial processes. For example, it is used in the production of steel, as well as in the production of chemicals, such as ethanol and methanol. Oxygen is also used in medicine, particularly in the treatment of respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and emphysema.