N
Nitrogen makes up about 78% of Earth's atmosphere and is essential for all living organisms.
Physical Properties
| Atomic Mass | 14.007 u |
| Density | 0.0012506 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 63.15 K |
| Boiling Point | 77.36 K |
| Appearance | Colorless gas |
| State at Room Temp | Gas |
Chemical Properties
| Electronegativity | 3.04 (Pauling) |
| 1st Ionization Energy | 1402.3 kJ/mol |
| Electron Affinity | -6.8 kJ/mol |
| Oxidation States | -3, -2, -1, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5 |
Atomic Properties
| Electron Configuration | [He] 2s2 2p3 |
| Atomic Radius | 56.0 pm |
| Covalent Radius | 71.0 pm |
| Van der Waals Radius | 155.0 pm |
Discovery
| Discovered By | Daniel Rutherford |
| Discovery Year | 1772 |
| Location | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Named After | Greek 'nitron genes' meaning niter-forming |
About Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, and generally inert diatomic gas at standard conditions. It forms a strong triple bond in its N2 molecule, making it relatively unreactive. Nitrogen is an essential component of amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids. The Haber-Bosch process revolutionized agriculture.
Uses & Applications
Fertilizers (ammonia), explosives, food preservation, cryogenics (liquid nitrogen), and inflating aircraft tires.
Fun Fact
Liquid nitrogen is so cold (-196 degrees C) it can flash-freeze almost anything, and nitrogen makes up 78% of every breath you take.
Isotopes
| Mass Number | Abundance | Half-Life | Stable |
| 14 | 0.99636% | - | Yes |
| 15 | 0.00364% | - | Yes |
Electron Configuration
[He] 2s2 2p3