How to Find Out More About Nitrogen

Nitrogen, the seventh element in the periodic table, composes the majority of our atmosphere and is an essential element for life. This element has much to offer students not only of science but also of history, and a little research will produce fascinating information about this important element.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A periodic chart

1. Read up on nitrogen's Greek roots and history. Look for information on why nitrogen is named for the Greek words "nitron" and "genes," meaning "nitre forming." Be sure to look for facts about how nitre is an ancient common name for potassium nitrate, which contains nitrogen.
2. Look for information about why nitrogen was discovered by Daniel Rutherford in 1772. Read up on nitrogen's scientific history to find out how Rutherford isolated nitrogen by removing oxygen from air.
3. Read about chemistry to understand why nitrogen is a diatomic gas (N2) on Earth and comprises 78.1 percent of our atmosphere. Study world economics to see that nitrogen is produced as ammonia compounds in Canada, India, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands and the United States. Study chemical manufacturing techniques to learn how nitrogen is obtained commercially by the liquefaction and fractional distillation of air.
4. Search chemistry and physics Web sites and books to learn about the best-known aspect of nitrogen—its status as the primary component of our atmosphere. Make sure to look for facts about nitrogen's appearance, reactivity and other chemical and physical properties.
5. Look for information on chemical properties to understand why the largest commercial use of nitrogen is in ammonia for fertilizer, which is largely produced in Canada, India, the Netherlands, Mexico and the United States. Study industrial applications, including the fact that nitrogen compounds are also found in foods, poisons and explosives. Research additional uses to learn how liquid nitrogen is used as a refrigerant and in cryogenics.
6. Search for information on biochemistry to learn why nitrogen is essential for life. Be sure to study the result of nitrogen being "fixed" in the soil, which is then used by plants and animals. Understand also that nitrogen is a component of all proteins.

Tips & Warnings

• Compounds containing cyano (CN) can be extremely poisonous.