Eli5: If water is 2 thirds oxygen, why do we need lungs?
In: Chemistry
Because water is chemically bound oxygen.
We need raw oxygen to produce energy in our cells, by burning Carbonhydrates (sugars, fats, proteins) with Oxygen to Water and CO². Energy is released because water and CO² are more stable than molecular oxygen and the carbonhydrates.
Fish also don’t use the bound oxygen for that, their gills filter out the molecular O² that is dissolved in water
Latest Answers