Eli5: What’s so special with oxygen that every living being users it and not other gas?
In: Biology
Oxygen is special in that its a powerful oxidizer that can take up electrons so that the energy making mechanisms in our cells can keep functioning. Our energy making mechanism is just a game of hot potato with electrons that makes a little bit of energy for the cell with each throw. Oxygen removes the electron when its cooled down so that a new electron can take its place. That combined with its ability to form water and its abundance in the atmosphere make it an ideal candidate
There are organisms deep in the ocean (where there is little oxygen) that use sulfur in place of oxygen. Sulfur is right below Oxygen in the periodic table, so it has similar properties. Its more abundant than oxygen in this area due to volcanic vents, so organisms evolved to use it instead
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