Oxygen serves a very significant purpose in our body: it is needed for cellular respiration. In this process, glucose is broken down and energy is released. The chemical reaction for this process can be written as:
`C_6H_12O_6 + 6O_2 -> 6CO_2 + 6H_2O + ATP`
Glucose molecules react with oxygen to generate carbon dioxide (which we exhale from our body), water and ATP (adenosine triphosphate) molecules. ATP molecules are energy molecules and since energy is required for all activities, including growth, maintenance and routine functioning of our body, oxygen is critical to us. ATP is produced in our body as and when the body needs it.
Note that breakdown of food and release of energy can also take place in the absence of oxygen as fermentation; however, that reaction is very inefficient (in comparison to cellular respiration). That is why we prefer oxygen.
Hope this helps.
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