🔹 Basic Information

• Element Name: Nitrogen
• Discovered By: Daniel Rutherford
• Year of Discovery: 1772
• Category: Non-metal
• Group: 15 (Group VA – Pnictogens)
• State at Room Temperature: Gas (colorless and odorless) 💨

Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that makes up about 78% of Earth’s atmosphere. Even though it’s everywhere, it doesn’t easily react — making it stable and essential in many natural cycles.

🔸 Chemical Properties

• Chemical Symbol: N
• Atomic Number: 7
• Atomic Mass: ~14.007 u
• Valency: 3 or 5
• Electronic Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p³

Nitrogen has five electrons in its outer shell, so it tends to form strong triple bonds, like in N₂ (diatomic nitrogen), which is extremely stable.

📘 Basic Things to Know

Even though we breathe in nitrogen every second, our bodies don’t use it directly from the air. Instead, plants absorb nitrogen through the soil, thanks to a process called the nitrogen cycle, which is key to life on Earth. 🌾

Nitrogen is also found in important molecules like DNA, proteins, and fertilizers.

🤔 Interesting Facts

• Liquid nitrogen is extremely cold and used to freeze things instantly — around -196°C! ❄️
• The bubbles in potato chip bags? That’s nitrogen! It keeps food fresh and dry. 🥔
• Nitrogen doesn’t support fire — in fact, it’s used in fire suppression systems. 🔥🚫
• Earth’s atmosphere is mostly nitrogen, not oxygen, as many people think!
• Nitrogen compounds are found in explosives, medicines, and cleaning products.

🔧 Common Uses

• Fertilizers: Used in ammonia (NH₃) and nitrates for healthy plant growth. 🌱
• Food Packaging: Keeps food fresh and prevents oxidation. 🥫
• Cryogenics: Liquid nitrogen is used for freezing tissues, food, and even computer parts! ❄️🧬
• Medical Field: Used in dermatology and surgery to remove warts or tumors.
• Industrial Use: Helps create steel, electronics, and explosives (like TNT).

📚 Conclusion

Nitrogen may be invisible and unreactive in the air, but it’s one of the most vital elements for all living things. From growing crops to preserving food and even treating medical conditions, nitrogen proves that even what we can’t see can be essential. For students, it shows how chemistry supports both life and technology every day. 🌎🔬