nitrogen

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A labeled diagram of a periodic table entry for nitrogen shows its atomic number 7, symbol N, electron configuration, atomic weight, and name. Symbols indicate nitrogen is a nonmetal gas at room temperature, has a hexagonal crystal structure, and strongly acidic higher-valence oxides. A key explains the diagram's icons and color coding.

Explore an interactive periodic table of the elements

Rutherford, Daniel

A scientific graph plots average nuclear binding energy per nucleon (in MeV) against atomic mass number, showing a sharp rise at low mass numbers, peaking near iron (Fe), then gradually declining for heavier elements. Key isotopes are labeled along the curve.

Figure 12: Transformations of nitrogen compounds in the atmosphere.

Diagram of the Bohr atomic model for a nitrogen atom, showing a central nucleus with protons and neutrons, surrounded by two rings of orbiting electrons. Labels identify protons, neutrons, electrons, and electron orbits.

A chemical diagram illustrates the stepwise formation of organometallic ruthenium clusters, showing how one ruthenium atom is added at each stage to build increasingly complex structures, with arrows indicating the addition of Ru(CO)5 and loss of CO molecules.

Diagram illustrating the nitrogen cycle, showing how nitrogen moves between the atmosphere, biosphere, and soil through natural processes like nitrogen fixation, assimilation, ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification, as well as through human activities such as fertilizer use and industrial emissions. Blue arrows indicate natural activities, and red arrows indicate human activities.

A vertical temperature scale shows the cryogenic region, highlighted from absolute zero up to about 90 kelvin, with key points where gases like oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and helium liquefy, alongside temperature conversions between kelvin, Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Rankine.

The importance of nitrogen and phosphorus in ecosystems

At a Glance

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nitrogen summary

nitrogen: Media

chemical element

Videos

The importance of nitrogen and phosphorus in ecosystems

The importance of nitrogen and phosphorus in ecosystems

An overview of the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles in the biosphere.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

The contribution of the Maillard reaction to the smell of bacon

The contribution of the Maillard reaction to the smell of bacon

The science behind the appealing aroma of bacon cooking.

Video: © American Chemical Society (A Britannica Publishing Partner)

Images

A labeled diagram of a periodic table entry for nitrogen shows its atomic number 7, symbol N, electron configuration, atomic weight, and name. Symbols indicate nitrogen is a nonmetal gas at room temperature, has a hexagonal crystal structure, and strongly acidic higher-valence oxides. A key explains the diagram's icons and color coding.

nitrogen

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Rutherford, Daniel

Rutherford, Daniel

Daniel Rutherford, 1786. He discovered the distinction between noxious air, or foul...

© Photos.com/Getty Images

A scientific graph plots average nuclear binding energy per nucleon (in MeV) against atomic mass number, showing a sharp rise at low mass numbers, peaking near iron (Fe), then gradually declining for heavier elements. Key isotopes are labeled along the curve.

nuclear binding energies

Nuclear binding energies, shown as a function of atomic mass number.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Figure 12: Transformations of nitrogen compounds in the atmosphere.

Figure 12: Transformations of nitrogen compounds in the atmosphere.

From Atmospheric Ozone 1985, World Meteorological Organization, Report No. 16, (1986), by courtesy of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Diagram of the Bohr atomic model for a nitrogen atom, showing a central nucleus with protons and neutrons, surrounded by two rings of orbiting electrons. Labels identify protons, neutrons, electrons, and electron orbits.

Bohr atomic model of a nitrogen atom

The diagram illustrates a nitrogen atom according to the Bohr model, with protons...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

A chemical diagram illustrates the stepwise formation of organometallic ruthenium clusters, showing how one ruthenium atom is added at each stage to build increasingly complex structures, with arrows indicating the addition of Ru(CO)5 and loss of CO molecules.

cluster-building reactions

Cluster-building reactionsIn each...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Diagram illustrating the nitrogen cycle, showing how nitrogen moves between the atmosphere, biosphere, and soil through natural processes like nitrogen fixation, assimilation, ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification, as well as through human activities such as fertilizer use and industrial emissions. Blue arrows indicate natural activities, and red arrows indicate human activities.

nitrogen cycle

The nitrogen cycle.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

A vertical temperature scale shows the cryogenic region, highlighted from absolute zero up to about 90 kelvin, with key points where gases like oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and helium liquefy, alongside temperature conversions between kelvin, Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Rankine.

cryogenic region

The cryogenic temperature range.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Interactives

Explore an interactive periodic table of the elements

Explore an interactive periodic table of the elements

Periodic table of the elements.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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