Elements and Substances

The non-metal that is essential for our life and we inhale during breathing is oxygen. Oxygen is a colorless, odorless gas that makes up about 21% of the Earth’s atmosphere. It is essential for respiration, which is the process of using oxygen to release energy from food. Oxygen is also essential for many other biological processes, such as the production of ATP, the body’s main source of energy.

Liquid oxygen is the most common oxidizer used in space rockets. It is highly reactive and helps to produce a powerful combustion reaction.

There are 11 nonmetals that are in gaseous state at room temperature. They are: Hydrogen, Helium, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Fluorine, Neon, Chlorine, Argon, Krypton, Xenon and Radon.

Carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, selenium, and iodine are all non-metals. They are all solids at room temperature.