Why is this element important in everyday life?
Plants from soluble nitrogen compounds in the soil use nitrogen. It is also used for preserving freshness in foods and it is part of the amino acids groups. Finally, it is used as saltpeter other wise known as a fertilizer.
Where is this element found in nature?
Nitrogen comprises about 78% of the earth's atmosphere. All living things are made up of compounds including nitrogen. Also nitrogen occurs whenever lightning flashes and heats up the air.
What are the properties of the element? Colorless, relatively inert gas with out any smell.
General Characteristics =
Nitrogen is one of the few elements that is found uncombined in nature. Nitrogen is colorless at room temperature. Nitrogen exists in two natural isotopic forms, and four radioactive isotopes have been artificially prepared.
Atomic Symbol = N
Period Number = 2
Group Number and Family Name = Group 15; other nonmetals
Atomic Number = 7
Atomic Mass = 14.007
Density = 1.251g/liter at 0'
Melting Point = -210.01 °C
Boiling Point = -195.79 °C
Electron Configuration = 1s22s22p3
Shorthand Notation =[He]2s22p3
Common Reactions =Nitrogen serves as a diluent for oxygen in burning and respiration process. When Nitrogen combines with other elements only at very high temperature of pressures.
Interesting Information = Oxides of nitrogen represent nitrogen in all the positive valence states.
Who is Nitrogen ?
Oprah: "Good Afternoon everyone and welcome to the Oprah show!" We have a very special guest today, which I'm sure a lot of you know. So let's give a warm welcome to Mr. Nitrogen.
Oprah: Hi, Mr. Nitrogen! So what have you been up to?
Nitrogen: Well first off I want to thank you for having me on your show today.
Oprah: Your Welcome!
Nitrogen: Anyways, I haven't been doing much except hanging out with all the other gases.
Oprah: I've heard you have been a little busy this year compared to last.
Nitrogen: Well that's true, because of this unusually warm weather that we have been having more and more people have been buying fertilizer. Which I suppose you know that is one of my many uses! Besides that I have been used a lot to preserve the fresh meat.
Oprah: Do you mind if I clear up a few personal rumors?
Nitrogen: No I don't mind, ask any question you want!
Oprah: I've heard it's a possibility that you might be getting married, to one of your colorless friends.
Nitrogen: Not to disappoint anybody but we can't get married because unfortunately we don't combine with any other elements and if and when I did it would only be in an extremely high temperatures or pressures. Oprah: Well, thanks for clearing that up. But I do have a couple of other questions. First I thought that because you're a gas your are considered a noble gas.
Nitrogen: That a simple mistake, actually the reason I'm not a noble gas is because I can be condensed into a colorless liquid.
Oprah: I just wanted to tell you that you look so young for your age, how old are you really?
Nitrogen: Well, I was isolated by a British physician Daniel Rutherford in 1772 and finally recognized as an elemental gas by Antoine Lavoisier a French chemist in 1776.
Oprah: I want to thank you for coming on the show today, and good luck in the future.
Nitrogen: Again, thank you for having me, it was a lot of fun!
