Compounds of oxygen - Oxides and other inorganic compounds

Due to its electronegativity, oxygen forms chemical bonds with almost all other elements at elevated temperatures to give corresponding oxides. However, some elements readily form oxides at standard conditions for temperature and pressure; the rusting of Iron is an example. The surface of metals like Aluminium and Titanium are oxidized in the presence of air and become coated with a thin film of oxide that passivates the metal and slows further corrosion. Some of the transition metal oxides are found in nature as non-stoichiometric compounds, with a slightly less metal than the chemical formula would show. For example, the natural occurring FeO (wüstite) is actually written as Fe_1−xO, where x is usually around 0.05. (Smart 2005, 214)

Oxygen as a compound is present in the atmosphere in trace quantities in the form of Carbon dioxide (CO₂). The earth's crustal rock is composed in large part of oxides of Silicon (silica SiO³4_{5³, found in granite and sand), Aluminium (aluminium oxide Al³67³O³89³, in bauxite and corundum), Iron (iron(III) oxide Fe³1011³O³1213³, in hematite and rust) and other metals.}

The rest of the Earth's crust is also made of oxygen compounds, in particular Calcium carbonate (in limestone) and silicates (in feldspars). Water-soluble silicates in the form of Na³14_{15³SiO³1617³, Na³1819³SiO³2021³, and Na³2223³Si³2425³O³2627³ are used as detergents and adhesives. (Cook & Lauer 1968, p.507)}

Oxygen also acts as a ligand for transition metals, forming metal–O₂ bonds with the iridium atom in Vaska's complex, (Crabtree 2001, 152) with the Platinum in PtF³28_{29³, (Cook & Lauer 1968, p.505) and with the Iron center of the heme group of hemoglobin.}

See also:

• Compounds of oxygen
• oxygen