nitrogen (elemental) [N]

Introduction

From the Greek nitron gene, nitre (potassium nitrate) forming Discovered by Scottish physician Daniel Rutherford in 1772

Occurrence

• constitutes 78% of the atmosphere (vol%)
• it occurs as a constituent of all living tissues in combined form
• nitrogen if fixed from the atmosphere by bacteria in the roots of certain plants such as clover
• obtained commercially by fractional distillation of liquid air

Characteristics

• a colorless tasteless odorless gaseous element
• largely inert, but compounds containing nitrogen are abundant
• boiling point: -80 degrees (C) < temperature of liquid nitrogen >

Uses

• nitrogen compounds
  • essential molecules of life
    • nucleic acids, proteins, cofactors, etc
  • fertilizers
• N2: non-reactive blanket gas
  • semiconductor industry
  • welding
  • air-sensitive chemical reactions

More general terms

• chemical element

More specific terms

• nitrogen-13

Additional terms

• N2 (molecular nitrogen, nitrogen gas)
• periodic table

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=947