Eli5: If water is 2 thirds oxygen, why do we need lungs?
In: Chemistry
The oxygen atom in water is already “reduced” – it has reacted with hydrogen at some point and is now settled into a low-energy state that can’t react again.
You need oxygen gas to live because it’s still highly reactive. Your body uses pure oxygen’s powerful reactivity to drive complex chemical processes.
The waste product is more reduced oxygen in carbon dioxide and water.
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