ABSTRACT
As implied in the chapter opening, air is something that we do not normally think about unless we have to: we are short on air, or the air we breathe makes us cough, sick, or worse. When forced to think or talk about air, we generally do not think or talk about air; instead, we think or talk about the oxygen in the air. Let’s face it, it is the gaseous oxygen that sustains our lives via respiration where the oxygen we take in burns the carbon in foodstuffs (like combustion), which then is exhaled; thus, the other gaseous and particulate substances that make up air are just along for the ride, right? Not exactly. It is true that air and oxygen have become synonymous-one in the same thing-to most people. Those of us who study or practice science know that air and oxygen are not synonymous; they are different, actually unique entities that just happen to blend or mix. From an earthly life-form point of view, this is a good thing. No doubt about it. Don’t you agree?
