What If Earth Lost All Oxygen For 5 Seconds?

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Planet Earth is teeming with life as millions of species of plants and animals inhabit every nook and cranny of it. The millions of species are just the ones that we have discovered. Who knows how many more lie beyond our current reach.

There are several ingredients that are responsible for the formation of all this life and its continuation but one element in particular is of great importance and that is Oxygen.

Oxygen serves as the basis of life as it is needed for breathing as well as forms 1/3rd of water (H2O) which is another very important prerequisite of life.

So, what would happen if all the oxygen atoms on the planet suddenly disappeared for like 5 seconds? If you thought you would just hold your breath for 5 seconds and that would be it, you are in for a world of surprise!! Let’s see what exactly would happen.

Earth’s Crust Would Crumble

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We have all read countless times that the atmosphere is made of 21% Oxygen but I think not many are aware of the fact that the Earth’s crust, on which everything exists, is made up of 47% oxygen.

So, you can only imagine what would happen if almost half of the Earth’s crust suddenly disappears. We would literally be free falling along with everything else to a much thinner layer of the crust.

The Earth would basically become a smaller ball mainly comprised of silicon and would look nothing like what it does today. As for us, we would all be dead almost immediately after we start to free fall and the next point explains why.

Our Bodies Would Disintegrate

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Our bodies are roughly made of 60% water. The billions of cells in our bodies all need to have water in them to remain alive. Approximately two-thirds of water in our bodies exist inside our cells.

And we know what water is made of. Two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. If the oxygen disappears, all you are left with is molecular hydrogen which is a gas.

So, you can imagine what your fate would be. Total disintegration of your body just like they show in movies, which would be a really painful way to go, in my opinion.

The Sky Would Turn Darker

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The Earth has an atmosphere that is largely made of Nitrogen (78%) and then Oxygen (21%). It also has other gases and dust particles in smaller quantities.

The light that we see reaches us after having gone through a lot of scattering in the atmosphere. The disappearance of oxygen from the atmosphere would be a drastic reduction in the amount of ‘particles’ in it.

With a lot less particles to scatter the blue light, the Earth’s sky would get appear darker. I think that would set the tone of the apocalypse that would be going around on the entire planet.

The Oceans Would Evaporate Into Space

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We all know that two-thirds of the Earth is covered by water in all the gigantic oceans and seas, rivers and lakes, ponds and streams. All that enormous amount of water would simply evaporate and start escaping into space.

Without oxygen to bind the water molecule, all that would be left would be the Hydrogen molecule, which as an unbound free gas would escape into space.

Combine this with the crumbling of the Earth’s crust, and I reckon, the Earth would be a lot smaller in size compared to now and would basically be lifeless and barren, showing no signs of any life that could ever have existed on it.

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A different read from the norm, very interesting too. Thanks 👍

Thanks. Glad you liked it :)

You're welcome friend 👍

It's very interesting when you find a post, that makes you think about how important everything around us is. We all know we need oxygen to breathe, but wow, what an eye opener. My first thought when reading your article was, "yeah, I would just hold my breath". Guess it wouldn't really matter. Lets just hope we NEVER have to find out. Now I will be looking for more of your posts, since you got my attention, interest now :-) Great post @sauravrungta

I really appreciate the kind words and yes, we never give a second thought to things that are so important to us. At least this way, people can realise it right? Thanks for reading. Glad you liked it :)

great stuff followed upvoted.

Thanks! :)

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Sounds like a good plot for a sci-fi movie... or maybe one where a colony had already be established on another planet in the galaxy and an alien threat was going to destroy all the oxygen. Interesting facts! Like I say, we gotta appreciate the paradise we have... humans stop being so stupid! (-:

Yeah, it could be an interesting plot. Instead of all oxygen getting disappeared instantly, maybe it could be that it is disappearing slowly and somehow they need to save the Earth and everything and everyone on it!

Would be a short movie ;)

That is one of the most interesting reads in a while.. But could we have some references for these bold claims please ? :P

The internet is vast and full of references :P

a good writer backs up claims with evidence, otherwise the claims are just theory

Nice read, however can you backup your claim "painful way to go" at disintegrating body? ;)

Well why don't we try it out for real?? Just kidding :P

Hey I'm all for it , count me in! However that doesn't help us in any way unless you find a way to reach people in the afterlife to ask them whether it hurts or not. ;)

Good point!!! LOL

I agree, it will be a disaster for us all, we must protect the Earth!

A total apocalypse, it would be.

OHHHH shit would not go our way i could assume xD