fredreload Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 Is Oxygen the only thing we can breath that helps sustain our life? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klaynos Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredreload Posted November 25, 2016 Author Share Posted November 25, 2016 (edited) Come on, oxygen is not the only thing with atomic number 8, we can go with flourine atomic number 9 or something, and excrete it as gas, we don't even need to drink water P.S. We got artificial sugar right? This thing should be even easier Nevermind I found my answer here Edited November 25, 2016 by fredreload Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Endy0816 Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 Artificial sugar only fools the taste buds. There is liquid breathing, but still involves disolved O2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredreload Posted November 25, 2016 Author Share Posted November 25, 2016 (edited) Right, we are built based on oxygen needs, so it really is hard to replace it with other elements Edited November 25, 2016 by fredreload Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharonY Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 That is not the reason. Assuming you mean humans or other animals the oxygen requirement is due to the fact that mitochondria are only able to use oxygen as terminal electron acceptor. Specifically, cytochrome C is involved in this process. Bacteria have other proteins in the electron transport chain to utilize other substrates. In either case one hard limit is the redox potential between the electron donor and acceptor, as that determines how many protons can be pumped. Incidentally oxygen is the most efficient substrate that is used for respiration. Other substrates have the issue that they a) are far less effective and b) are usually solids which limits the rate they can be utilized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strange Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 Come on, oxygen is not the only thing with atomic number 8 I think you will find it is. , we can go with flourine atomic number 9 or something, and excrete it as gas, we don't even need to drink water Fluorine is extremely corrosive and would kill your pretty quickly if you tried to breath it. And replacing water with hydrogen fluoride would not be a good idea... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cuthber Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 Come on, oxygen is not the only thing with atomic number 8, Thank you for clarifying the depth of your ignorance. We can now be sure that nobody needs to read any further through this thread. Perhaps it's time to lock it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Endy0816 Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 Probably just meant to use a different word. Does seem like OP found the answer his own question though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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