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Elements for Kids

Nitrogen

The element nitrogen

  • Symbol: N
  • Atomic Number: 7
  • Atomic Weight: 14.007
  • Classification: Gas and nonmetal
  • Phase at Room Temperature: Gas
  • Density: 1.251 g/L @ 0°C
  • Melting Point: -210.00°C, -346.00°F
  • Boiling Point: -195.79°C, -320.33°F
  • Discovered by: Daniel Rutherford in 1772


Nitrogen is the first element in column 15 of the periodic table. It is part of the group of "other" nonmetal elements. Nitrogen atoms have seven electrons and 7 protons with five electrons in the outer shell.

Nitrogen plays an important role in the life of plants and animals on Earth through the nitrogen cycle. Click here to learn more about the nitrogen cycle.

Characteristics and Properties

Under standard conditions nitrogen is a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas. It forms diatomic molecules, which means that there are two nitrogen atoms per molecule in nitrogen gas (N2). In this configuration nitrogen is very inert, meaning that it doesn't typically react with other compounds.

Nitrogen becomes a liquid at -210.00 degrees C. Liquid nitrogen looks like water.

Common compounds with nitrogen atoms include ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O), nitrites, and nitrates. Nitrogen is also found in organic compounds such as amines, amides, and nitro groups.

Where is nitrogen found on Earth?

Although we often refer to the air we breathe as "oxygen", the most common element in our air is nitrogen. The Earth's atmosphere is 78% nitrogen gas or N2.

Even though there is so much nitrogen in the air, there is very little in the Earth's crust. It can be found in some fairly rare minerals such as saltpeter.

Nitrogen can also be found in all living organisms on Earth including plants and animals. It plays an important role in proteins and nucleic acids.

How is nitrogen used today?

The primary industrial use of nitrogen is to make ammonia. The process by which nitrogen is used to make ammonia is called the Haber process where nitrogen and hydrogen are combined to make NH3 (ammonia). Ammonia is then used to create fertilizers, nitric acid, and explosives.

Many explosives contain nitrogen such as TNT, nitroglycerin, and gun powder.

Some applications for nitrogen gas include the preservation of fresh foods, the manufacturing of stainless steel, reducing fire hazards, and as part of the gas in incandescent light bulbs.

Liquid nitrogen is used as a refrigerant to keep things cold. It is also used in the cryopreservation of biological samples and blood. Scientists often use liquid nitrogen when performing low temperature science experiments.

How was it discovered?

Nitrogen was first isolated by Scottish chemist Daniel Rutherford in 1772. He called the gas "noxious air."

Where did nitrogen get its name?

Nitrogen was named by French chemist Jean-Antoine Chaptal in 1790. He named it after the mineral niter when he found that niter contained the gas. Niter is also called saltpeter or potassium nitrate.

Isotopes

There are two stable isotopes of nitrogen: nitrogen-14 and nitrogen-15. Over 99% of the nitrogen in the universe is nitrogen-14.

Interesting Facts about Nitrogen


More on the Elements and the Periodic Table

Elements
Periodic Table

Alkali Metals
Lithium
Sodium
Potassium

Alkaline Earth Metals
Beryllium
Magnesium
Calcium
Radium

Transition Metals
Scandium
Titanium
Vanadium
Chromium
Manganese
Iron
Cobalt
Nickel
Copper
Zinc
Silver
Platinum
Gold
Mercury
 Post-transition Metals
Aluminum
Gallium
Tin
Lead

Metalloids
Boron
Silicon
Germanium
Arsenic

Nonmetals
Hydrogen
Carbon
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Phosphorus
Sulfur
 Halogens
Fluorine
Chlorine
Iodine

Noble Gases
Helium
Neon
Argon

Lanthanides and Actinides
Uranium
Plutonium

More Chemistry Subjects

Matter
Atom
Molecules
Isotopes
Solids, Liquids, Gases
Melting and Boiling
Chemical Bonding
Chemical Reactions
Radioactivity and Radiation
 Mixtures and Compounds
Naming Compounds
Mixtures
Separating Mixtures
Solutions
Acids and Bases
Crystals
Metals
Salts and Soaps
Water
 Other
Glossary and Terms
Chemistry Lab Equipment
Organic Chemistry
Famous Chemists


Science >> Chemistry for Kids >> Periodic Table


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