Nitrogen chemical element represented as N and atomic number of 7, nitrogen used in various industrial and commercial applications such as fertilizers, packaged foods, Light Bulbs, Reactive compounds production

1. INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT
NITROGEN ELEMENT
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2. INTRODUCTION

Nitrogen is a chemical element and it can be represented as N
and atomic number of 7. In normal conditions nitrogen is a
colorless, odorless and tasteless gas. Nitrogen makes up around
78 per cent in our surrounding atmosphere. Nitrogen is one of
the primary nutrients critical for the survival of all living
organisms. Although nitrogen is very abundant in the
atmosphere, it is largely inaccessible in elemental form to most
organisms.

Nitrogen is also present in other forms. When people think of
nitrogen, they immediately associate it with the air in the
environment. Nitrogen not only part of atmosphere but also part
of the food they eat every day. Since its discovery, scientists have
learned a lot about it and today with technology development
nitrogen is commercially available in large amounts, various
forms. The most common types are nitrous oxide and super
coolant liquid nitrogen. Nitrous oxide is one of the nitrogen
compound commonly known as laughing gas.

3. LIQUID NITROGEN

Liquid nitrogen is nitrogen in a liquid state at an
extremely low temperature. It is produced industrially by
fractional distillation of liquid air. Liquid nitrogen is a
colorless clear liquid. Liquid nitrogen is a compact and
readily transported source of nitrogen gas without
pressurization. Liquid nitrogen has also become popular
in the preparation of cocktails because it can be used to
quickly chill glasses or freeze ingredients.

Liquid nitrogen can be applied for freezing and transport
of food products, cryopreservation of biological
samples, and coolant for superconductors, vacuum
pumps, also used in cryotherapy to remove skin
abnormalities, shielding materials from oxygen
exposure, cooling materials for easier machining or
fracturing.

4. NITROGEN WITH OTHER ELEMENTS

Liquid nitrogen is nitrogen in a liquid state at an
extremely low temperature. It is produced industrially by
fractional distillation of liquid air. Liquid nitrogen is a
colorless clear liquid. Liquid nitrogen is a compact and
readily transported source of nitrogen gas without
pressurization. Liquid nitrogen has also become popular
in the preparation of cocktails because it can be used to
quickly chill glasses or freeze ingredients.


Liquid nitrogen can be applied for freezing and transport
of food products, cryopreservation of biological
samples, and coolant for superconductors, vacuum
pumps, also used in cryotherapy to remove skin
abnormalities, shielding materials from oxygen
exposure, cooling materials for easier machining or
fracturing.

5. UNIQUE PROPERTIES OF NITROGEN

Nitrogen is a fascinating element with many unique
properties and uses related to
fertilizer, dynamite, medical anesthetic and even car
racing. Read interesting facts about the nitrogen
atom, liquid nitrogen, nitrous oxide, nitric
acid, nitroglycerin and much more.

Nitrogen is present in all living things, including the
human body and plants. Nitrogen gas is used in food
storage to keep packaged or bulk foods fresh. It is also
used in the making of electronic parts, for industrial
purposes and has many other useful applications.
Nitrogen gas is often used as an alternative to carbon
dioxide for storing beer in pressurized kegs.

6. NITROGEN IN SPACE

Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, has an
atmosphere nearly entirely made of nitrogen. It is
the only moon in our solar system known to have a
dense atmosphere. Nitrogen is in a liquid state
when at a very low temperature. Liquid nitrogen
boils at 77 kelvin (−196 °C, −321 °F). It is easily
transported and has many useful applications
including storing items at cold temperatures, in the
field of cryogenics, as a computer
coolant, removing warts and much more.

7. NITROGEN ROLE IN HEALTH CARE AND
DISEASES
Decompression sickness involves nitrogen bubbles
forming in the bloodstream and other important
areas of the body when people depressurize too
quickly from scuba diving. Similar situations can
occur for astronauts and those working in
unpressurized aircraft.
 Nitrous oxide (N2O) is used in hospitals and dental
clinics as an anesthetic. Nitrous oxideis also used
in motor racing to increase the power of engine and
speed of the vehicle. Nitrous oxide is a
considerable greenhouse gas and air pollutant. By
weight is has nearly 300 times more impact than
carbon dioxide.


8. NITROGEN AS FERTILIZER

Nitroglycerin is a liquid used to create explosives such as
dynamite. It is often used in the demolition and construction
industries as well as by the military. Nitric acid (HNO3) is a
strong acid often used in the production of fertilizers. Ammonia
(NH3) is another nitrogen compound commonly used
in fertilizers.



Rainfall adds about 10 pounds of nitrogen to the soil per acre
per year. The nitrogen oxides and ammonium that are washed
to earth are formed during electrical storms, by internal
combustion engines and through oxidation by sunlight. Some
scientists also believe that some of the gaseous products that
result from the transformation of nitrogen fertilizers may cause
a depletion of the ozone (O3) layer around the earth. The
extent of this possible damage has not been substantiated.

9. NITROGEN AS FERTILIZER CONT ..

Crop residues decompose in the soil to form soil organic
matter. This organic matter contains about 5 percent
nitrogen. An acre-foot of soil having 2 percent organic
matter would contain about 3,500 pounds of nitrogen.
Generally, about 1 to 3 percent of this organic nitrogen is
converted per year by microorganisms to a form of
nitrogen that plants can use.

Commercial fertilizer nitrogen comes in three basic
forms

Gaseous nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen
Dry nitrogen



10. NITROGEN TRANSFORMATION

Nitrogen Transformations

Nitrogen exists in a number of chemical forms and
undergoes chemical and biological reactions.

Organic nitrogen to ammonium nitrogen

Organic nitrogen comprises over 95 percent of the
nitrogen found in soil. This form of nitrogen cannot be
used by plants but is gradually transformed by soil
microorganisms to ammonium (NH4+). Ammonium is
not leached to a great extent. Since NH4+ is a positively
charged ion, it is attracted to and held by the negatively
charged soil clay. Ammonium is available to plants.


11. NITROGEN TRANSFORMATION CONT ..

Ammonium nitrogen to nitrate nitrogen (nitrification)

In warm, well-drained soil, ammonium transforms rapidly to
nitrate (NO3-). Nitrate is the principle form of nitrogen used by
plants. It leaches easily, since it is a negatively charged ion
(anion) and is not attracted to soil clay. The nitrate form of
nitrogen is a major concern in pollution.

Nitrate or ammonium nitrogen to organic nitrogen
(immobilization)

Soil microorganisms use nitrate and ammonium nitrogen when
decomposing plant residues. The addition of 20 to 70 pounds of
nitrogen per ton of these residues is needed to prevent this
transformation. After the residues are decomposed, the microbial
population begins to die back and processes 1 and 2 take place.

12. NITROGEN TRANSFORMATION CONT ..

Nitrate nitrogen to gaseous nitrogen (denitrification)

When soil does not have sufficient air, microorganisms use the
oxygen from NO3- in place of that in the air and rapidly convert
NO3- to nitrogen oxide and nitrogen gases (N2). These gases
escape to the atmosphere and are not available to plants. This
transformation can occur within two or three days in poorly
aerated soil and can result in large loses of nitrate-type fertilizers.

Ammonium nitrogen to ammonia gas (ammonia
volatilization)

Soils that have a high pH can lose large amounts of NH4+ by
conversion to NH3 gas. To minimize these losses, incorporate
solid ammonium-type fertilizers, urea and anhydrous ammonia
below the surface of a moist soil.

13. APPLICATIONS OF NITROGEN

This element is present in virtually all pharmacological
drugs. In the form of nitrous oxide it is used as an
anesthetic. Cryopreservation also uses the gas to
conserve egg, blood, sperm and other biological
specimens. The CPUs in computers use the gas to keep
them from heating up. X-ray detectors also rely on this
element.

The element is used in controlling pollution. It is effective
in getting rid of unstable organic compounds in liquids.
Many industries use it to destroy toxic liquids and vapors
in industrial tools. As nitrogen dioxide, the element is
vital in the industrial sector. It also serves as an
oxidation reaction catalyst. Apart from being an oxidizing
agent, it can also be used as a flour bleaching agent
and rocket fuel.

14. APPLICATIONS OF NITROGEN CONT ..

Light Bulbs

Nitrogen is often used in making light bulbs. It serves as an
inexpensive substitute for argon in incandescent light bulbs.

Packaged Foods

Nitrogen is used to preserve the freshness of packaged foods.
Nitrogen can prevent the oxidation of food, and thus delay
rancidity and other forms of oxidative damage.

Fertilizers

Nitrogen is one of the most important ingredients in fertilizers, to
increase soil fertility. It is used to make other fertilizers like
ammonia and urea, which are used to promote plant growth and
increase yield.

15. APPLICATIONS OF NITROGEN CONT ..

Reactive compounds production

It can produce a range of unstable and highly reactive
compounds, like nitrogen triiodide,ammonium
nitrate, trinitrotoluene (TNT), nitric acid, and nitroglycerin.

Electronic Parts

Nitrogen is used for making transistors, integrated circuits, and
diodes.

Stainless Steel

Nitrogen is often used in manufacturing stainless
steel, electroplating processes in order to make it stronger and
more resistant to corrosion.

16. APPLICATIONS OF NITROGEN CONT ..

High Voltage Equipment

Dried and pressurized nitrogen gas is used as a dielectric gas
for high voltage equipment. Nitrogen is also used as a
pressurizing gas to propel liquids through pipelines.

Nitrogen is also used for pollution control, especially for
eliminating volatile organic compounds from liquids. It can
help remove harmful vapors and liquids from industrial
equipment as well.

Pharmaceuticals

Nitrogen is a constituent of almost every major class of
drugs, including antibiotics. In the form of nitrous
oxide, nitrogen is used as a pharmaceutical anesthetic agent.

17. REFERENCE

[1] © From, http://www.usesof.net/uses-ofnitrogen.html
 [2] ©
From, http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/crops/005
50.html
 [3]
http://www.worldofchemicals.com/wocart/436/intere
sting-facts-about-nitrogen-element.html