Oxygen is involved in a variety of important catalytic reactions:
1. Oxidation: This includes reactions like the oxidation of hydrocarbons to produce alcohols, aldehydes, and acids. 2. Combustion: Oxygen is essential for the complete combustion of fuels, which is a critical process in energy production. 3. Selective Oxidation: Oxygen is used to selectively oxidize specific functional groups within molecules, which is vital in the synthesis of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. 4. Environmental Catalysis: Oxygen plays a role in catalytic converters for the reduction of vehicle emissions and in processes for water and air purification.
