Space Oxygen

[seer]

I just learned that the moon is mostly oxygen. Here on earth plants produce oxygen. What is producing oxygen in space?

[KingNothing13]

According to this article - earth's plants.

https://www.space.com/35502-moon-has-ox ... lants.html

This is literally the first time I have heard of this though, and the only "research" I've done, is a quick google search of "moon oxygen"

[seer]

Look at this lady's chart in this video.

[KathyNS]

OK, you are talking about two different things. The oxygen referred to in the chart is elemental oxygen bound to other elements in moon rocks as molecules of mineral crystals. The oxygen that is "produced" by plants is molecular oxygen. That is not what the video is talking about. Plants do not create the oxygen element. They extract it from carbon dioxide. The oxygen element was already there, it was just bound up in another molecule.

Chemical elements can only be created in nuclear processes. All the oxygen in the universe was formed in stars. Oxygen is light enough that it can be created by fusion during the normal lifetime of a star. Heavier elements cannot be created by normal fusion, and are created in supernova explosions.

[seer]

That looks like a lot of oxygen on the moon. Can we make use of it for breathing and fuel?

[KingNothing13]

That looks like a lot of oxygen on the moon. Can we make use of it for breathing and fuel?

I assume, eventually, if not already, there could be technology to extract the oxygen - but remember, while oxygen is SUPER important for our breathing, and well, living(!), it is not the bulk of the elements we take in with a breath.

[Gfamily]

That looks like a lot of oxygen on the moon. Can we make use of it for breathing and fuel?

Oxygen binds relatively strongly to many elements, but if there is a suitable energy source, it is possible to break those bonds and release the oxygen for use.
The Moon based novel Artemis by Andy Weir is a good read in which this is a feature.

[KathyNS]

That looks like a lot of oxygen on the moon. Can we make use of it for breathing and fuel?

You need a ton of energy to extract the oxygen from the rock. I have never seen silicon burn, but I am sure it would because most of the oxygen on the Moon and on Earth is in the form of silicates. So however much energy you get from the fire when silicon burns to form silicates is the amount of energy you need to supply in order to reverse the reaction and extract the oxygen.

[OBXgirl]

There is water (frozen) on the Moon at the South Pole. The Artemis Program will attempt to use that as a source for water, oxygen and hydrogen for fuel. *Fingers crossed*
But there is not Oxygen on the Moon in the sense that you are thinking.