Nitrogen is a chemical element found in nature. It is a colorless, odorless gas that makes up about 78% of the Earth's atmosphere. Nitrogen is essential for all living things as it is a key part of proteins, DNA, and other important molecules in the body.
Symbol
The chemical symbol for nitrogen is N.
Also Check: Osmosis | Octane Number | Corrosion
Related Links: Fluorine | Isomerism | Iodine
Uses
- Fertilizers: Nitrogen is a major component of fertilizers, which help plants grow. It is essential for plant nutrition.
- Industrial Use: Nitrogen is used in industries to create ammonia, which is then used to produce other chemicals.
- Food Preservation: Nitrogen gas is used to keep packaged foods fresh by preventing oxidation.
- Medical Use: Liquid nitrogen is used in cryogenics, which involves freezing and preserving biological samples.
- Explosives: Nitrogen is a key ingredient in explosives like TNT and nitroglycerin.
Properties
- Physical State: At room temperature, nitrogen is a gas.
- Color and Odor: Nitrogen is colorless and odorless.
- Solubility: It is not very soluble in water.
- Reactivity: Nitrogen is relatively inert, meaning it does not react easily with other elements. This makes it stable and safe to use in various applications.
Atomic Information
- Atomic Number: The atomic number of nitrogen is 7. This means each nitrogen atom has 7 protons in its nucleus.
- Atomic Mass: The average atomic mass of nitrogen is about 14.01 atomic mass units (amu).
- Electron Configuration: The electrons in a nitrogen atom are arranged in the pattern 1s2 2s2 2p2.
- Isotopes: Nitrogen has two stable isotopes, N-14 and N-15. N-14 is the most common isotope.