Why is oxygen an element?

Why is oxygen non flammable? What property does it show that makes it not able to burn as an element, like other elements do so with oxygen?

• I want to know exactly, precisely why oxygen is not combustible. I know it isn't and what would happen if it was, but i want to know why is it that way ? What's so different ...show more

• Answer:

  Burning is a process of rapid oxidation oxidation means it's charge goes UP Oxygen is usually found as O2 which a zero net charge. Since each oxygen has the same electronegativity, each O atom has a net ZERO oxidation state which means you have to have this reaction .. 1 O2(0) ----> 2 O(+1) + 2 electrons. plus the reduction half, to oxidize oxygen gas. The only way to do this is to pair up the oxygen with an atom with extremely high electronegativity that is going to take those electrons from the oxygen. If you look at the table here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronegativity O has EN = 3.44 The only element with a higher electronegativity is F with 3.98. That's not a very large difference so we would NOT expect this reaction .. 1 O2 + 2 F2 --> 2 OF2 to happen rapidly. That OF2 can be produced, but it's not a combustion reaction.. read about it here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Of2 ***** now you get to put all that together in your own words