Nitrogen -- by Amy S

Why is this element important in everyday life?

Nitrogen makes up 75% of the air that we breathe

Nitrogen is found in all living things

A Nitrogen compound is NH₃ is ammonia.

     -A dilute solution used for household cleaning products
          -Makes fertilizers  
          -Used in smelling salts
          -Used in light bulb filaments to last longer

Nitrous Oxide = is commonly called laughing gas. It is used to take pain away in minor operations.

Where is this element found in nature?

Nitrogen is found in the air. Small amounts occur as nitrates in Sodium and Potassium in living tissues. There are rocks containing Nitrogen, but are very uncommon. One large source is located in the deserts of Chile.

What are the properties of the element?

General Characteristics =

Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, relatively unreactive gas

Atomic Symbol = N

Period Number = 2

Group Number and Family Name =Nitrogen Family Group Number=15

Atomic Number =7

Atomic Mass =14.007

Density =1.251 g/l

Melting Point =-209.9 degrees Celsius

Boiling Point =195.8 degrees Celsius

Electron Configuration = N=1s²2s²2p³

Shorthand Notation =N= [He] 2s²3p³

Common Reactions = Nitrogen and Hydrogen combine to form ammonia.

Interesting Information = Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere. It is 79% volume and 76% mass. Inert Nitrogen is used to preserve food.

Who is Nicki Nitrogen ?

I'm Diane Chemistry and Today on Element Line (BHS) we are talking with the popular element, Nicki Nitrogen.

Chemistry-"I hear a lot about something called the nitrogen cycle. Can you please explain it.

Nicki- "The Nitrogen cycle is a process by which I (Nitrogen) continuously move back and forth between living things and the atmosphere. I never seem to get a break. As you can imagine I'm always tired, this helps me be fairly unreactive.

Chemistry-nitrogen fixation is atmospheric nitrogen gas (N₂₎ that is changed into nitrogen compounds used by plants. How does this occur?

Nicki- Natural fixation is done by bacteria on the roots of legumes. It is in the form NH₃(ammonia).

Chemistry- Why do farmers rotate their legumes?

Nicki- So the Nitrogen in the soil is restored. Lighting also produces nitrogen. It causes Nitrogen and Oxygen to react and form nitrates.

Chemistry- What happens to the nitrates? Nicki- Nitrates are dissolved in soil and taken in by plants. Animals eat the plants. Compounds of myself in dead organisms are decomposed by bacteria into ammonia compounds.

Chemistry- Is their a way to artificially fixate you?

Nicki-Yes, but I don't like to discuss that. I prefer to remain natural.

Chemistry-How are you returned to the atmosphere?

Nicki- Bacteria convert nitrates in the soil to gaseous nitrogen. This completes the cycle.

Chemistry- Thanks for clearing that up for us. It was interesting. Be sure to jo9in us next Monday on Element Line with Oxygen.