Air is all around us, but we can’t see it. So what is air, exactly? It’s a mixture of different gases. The air in Earth’s atmosphere is made up of approximately 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen. Air also has small amounts of lots of other gases, too, such as carbon dioxide, neon, and hydrogen. Air is an important environment for the breathing of all living things on Earth. It provides oxidation processes that supply the body with the necessary energy. In addition, it has the widest application in various fields of industry. Air is a significant supplier of energy: all living plants and animals depend on oxygen to generate valuable energy. Body cells take oxygen from the blood and produce energy after consuming food in the form of ATP. This biochemical generation of ATP is essential to maintain life on the Earth. So, this is one of the uses of air.

People need to breathe, and so do lots of other animals—and plants! Breathing is part of a process called respiration. During respiration, a living thing takes in oxygen from the air and gives out carbon dioxide. This process gives animals and plants the energy to eat, grow, and live life!

Savita Chauhan & Sandeep Gangrade

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