liquid oxygen
Quick Summary
Liquid oxygen (LOX) is a pale blue, transparent, mobile liquid form of oxygen. It is obtained by compressing gaseous oxygen and is primarily used as an oxidizer in rocket propellants and in liquid-oxygen explosives (LOX).1
Oxygen itself is a nonmetallic chemical element essential for life, found as a colorless, odorless gas. It is the most abundant element in Earth's crust and makes up about 21% of the atmosphere. Oxygen readily forms compounds with other elements, a process often accompanied by heat and light, known as combustion.2
While oxygen gas is vital for respiration, its liquid form has industrial and specialized applications. Historically, LOX was used in explosives, particularly during World War I due to nitrate shortages, but its use has declined with the availability of other explosives. In medicine, oxygen therapy involves administering oxygen, which can be stored as a gas or a liquid.34
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jet engineTurboramjetsā¦of an oxidizer, such as liquid oxygen. The oxidizer is fed into the core combustion chamber along with the fuel to support the combustion process, which generates the hot gas stream to power the turbine that drives the fan. During supersonic flight, the fan may be feathered, and a surplusā¦
Read Moreā¦of an oxidizer, such as liquid oxygen. The oxidizer is fed into the core combustion chamber along with the fuel to support the combustion process, which generates the hot gas stream to power the turbine that drives the fan. During supersonic flight, the fan may be feathered, and a surplusā¦
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rocketLiquid-propellant rocket enginesFor example, liquid oxygen is widely used because it is a good oxidizer for a number of fuels (giving high flame temperature and low molecular mass) and because it is reasonably dense and relatively inexpensive. It is liquid only below ā183 Ā°C (ā297 Ā°F), which somewhat limitsā¦
Read MoreFor example, liquid oxygen is widely used because it is a good oxidizer for a number of fuels (giving high flame temperature and low molecular mass) and because it is reasonably dense and relatively inexpensive. It is liquid only below ā183 Ā°C (ā297 Ā°F), which somewhat limitsā¦
Read More