Which of the following statements regarding oxygen is correct?

• A. Oxygen is flammable and may explode if under high pressure.
• B. Oxygen supports the combustion process and may cause a fire.
• C. Oxygen cylinders must always remain in an upright position.
• D. Oxygen is most safely administered in an enclosed environment.

Answer: (B)

Oxygen’s essential safety property is that it is an oxidizer: it does not burn itself, but it greatly supports and accelerates combustion. In oxygen-rich environments, fuels ignite more readily and flames burn hotter and faster. That’s why the statement that oxygen supports combustion and may cause a fire is the correct one. The other choices misstate oxygen’s nature or safety implications: oxygen isn’t a flammable substance, so it doesn’t explode on its own; while cylinders should be stored upright and secured, that is a safety practice rather than a description of oxygen’s basic behavior; and administering oxygen in an enclosed environment increases, not reduces, fire risk.