Facts about Nitrogen (2024)

World Nitrogen Use Efficiency for Cereal Production is 33%
Agronomy Journal 91:357 Facts:

1. N has no odor, is tasteless, and colorless.
2. Nitrogen gas (N₂) makes up 78.1% of the Earth's atmosphere
3. Atmosphere contains an estimated 4,000 trillion tons of N₂
4. Nitrogen is not a metal.
5. Nitrogen gas is inert. Some soil bacteria can 'fix' nitrogen into a form that plants and animals can use to make amino acids and proteins.
6. French chemist Antoine Laurent Lavoisier named nitrogen azote, meaning without life.
7. Nitrogen was sometimes referred to as 'burnt' or 'dephlogisticated' air.
8. Nitrogen compounds are found in foods, fertilizers, poisons, and explosives.
9. Nitrogen is responsible for the orange-red, blue-green, blue-violet, and deep violet colors of the aurora.
10. One way to prepare nitrogen gas is by liquefaction and fractional distillation from the atmosphere.
11. Nitrogen has a valence of 3 or 5.
12. Discovery: Scottishphysician Daniel Rutherfordin1772
13. Fifth most abundant element in the universe

Atomic Number 7 (more)Periodic Table
Atomic Mass 14.0067

Commercial fertilizer is responsible for 40 to 60% of the worlds food production (Roberts, 2009)

Roberts, T.L. 2009. The role of fertilizer in growing the world's food. Better Crops: 93:12-15)

Physical properties of Nitrogen
Boiling Point at 1 atm Freezing Point at 1 atm Density of the gas at 21.1 C and 1 atm	-195.8 C -209.9 C 1.153 kg/m3

Uses of Nitrogen

Nitrogen finds use in diverse commercial applications, including: Chemical Processing ... to inert vessels and oxygen-sensitive chemicals, creating an oxygen-deficient environment that reduces safety hazards; to propelliquids through pipelines; and to manufacture ammonia. Food ... to extend shelf-life in packaged foods by preventing spoilage from oxidation, mold growth, moisture migration and insect infestation; to rapidly freeze; and to refrigerate perishables during transport. Petroleum Recovery and Refining ... to improve recovery and maintain pressure in oil and gas reservoirs; to blanket storage tanks and product loading/unloading; to purge pipelines; and to strip volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from waste streams or to cool vent streams. Controlling VOC emissions helps refiners comply with U.S. Clean Air Act requirements. Metal Production andFabrication ... to protect metals such as steel, copper and aluminum during annealing, carburizing and sintering operations in high temperature furnaces; to cool extrusion dies; and to shrink fit metal parts; utilized as a purge gas with stainless steel tube welding. Also used to support plasma cutting. Electronics ... to prevent oxidation in the manufacture of semiconductors and printed circuits; and to enhance solvent recovery systems by eliminating the use of chlorofluorocarbons for cleanup. Glass Manufacturing ... to cool furnace electrodes and prevent oxidation during manufacturing; and to lower air temperatures for optimum cooling rates. Research and Health Services ... to freeze and preserve blood, tissue, sem*n and other biological specimens; to freeze and destroy diseased tissue in cryosurgery and dermatology; and to pre-cool or insulate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), conserving the more costly helium. Construction ... to suppress the pour temperature of concrete mixtures, inhibiting the formation of cracks; and to stabilize the ground as in the restoration of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Fertilizer Consumed, 2014, FAOSTAT, 2014

As a seasoned expert in the field of nitrogen and its applications, I bring forth a wealth of knowledge to elucidate the intricate details surrounding this essential element. My expertise is rooted in a comprehensive understanding of nitrogen's properties, applications, and its pivotal role in various domains.

Let's delve into the information encapsulated in the provided article:

Nitrogen Properties:

1. Odorless, Tasteless, Colorless:

   • Nitrogen (N) is characterized by its lack of odor, taste, and color.

2. Abundance in Atmosphere:

   • Nitrogen gas (N2) constitutes a staggering 78.1% of the Earth's atmosphere.
   • The atmosphere contains an estimated 4,000 trillion tons of N2.

3. Chemical Inertness:

   • Nitrogen gas is inert, implying it does not readily undergo chemical reactions.

4. Biological Fixation:

   • Certain soil bacteria can 'fix' nitrogen into a form usable by plants and animals to synthesize amino acids and proteins.

5. Historical Context:

   • Named by French chemist Antoine Laurent Lavoisier as "azote," meaning without life.
   • Previously referred to as 'burnt' or 'dephlogisticated' air.

6. Color Contribution:

   See Also

   conclusion about nitrogen cycle - Brainly.in
   • Nitrogen is responsible for various colors in the aurora, including orange-red, blue-green, blue-violet, and deep violet.

7. Preparation Methods:

   • Nitrogen gas can be prepared by liquefaction and fractional distillation from the atmosphere.

8. Chemical Characteristics:

   • Nitrogen has a valence of 3 or 5.

Historical and Elemental Information:

• Discovered by Scottish physician Daniel Rutherford in 1772.
• Fifth most abundant element in the universe.
• Atomic Number: 7
• Atomic Mass: 14.0067

Nitrogen Usage:

Nitrogen is employed in a multitude of commercial applications:

1. Chemical Processing:

   • Used to create oxygen-deficient environments, propelling liquids through pipelines, and manufacturing ammonia.

2. Food Industry:

   • Extends shelf-life in packaged foods, prevents spoilage, molds, moisture migration, and insect infestation. Also used for rapid freezing and refrigeration during transport.

3. Petroleum Recovery and Refining:

   • Improves recovery and maintains pressure in oil and gas reservoirs, purges pipelines, and aids in VOC emission control.

4. Metal Production and Fabrication:

   • Protects metals during high-temperature operations, cools extrusion dies, and supports welding processes.

5. Electronics:

   • Prevents oxidation in semiconductor manufacturing and enhances solvent recovery systems.

6. Glass Manufacturing:

   • Cools furnace electrodes, prevents oxidation, and lowers air temperatures for optimum cooling rates.

7. Research and Health Services:

   • Used for freezing and preserving biological specimens, cryosurgery, dermatology, and MRI pre-cooling.

8. Construction:

   • Suppresses concrete pour temperature to inhibit crack formation and stabilizes the ground in construction projects.

Fertilizer Impact on Food Production:

• Commercial fertilizer, which often contains nitrogen, plays a crucial role, being responsible for 40 to 60% of the world's food production (Roberts, 2009).

References:

• Roberts, T.L. 2009. "The role of fertilizer in growing the world's food." Better Crops: 93:12-15.

In conclusion, my deep knowledge of nitrogen encompasses its historical discovery, fundamental properties, and diverse applications across industries, showcasing its indispensability in our daily lives and various sectors of the global economy.