Nitrogen

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 * Name:** Nitrogen
 * Symbol:** N
 * Atomic Number:** 7
 * Atomic Mass:** 14.00674 amu
 * Melting Point:** -209.9 °C (63.250008 K, -345.81998 °F)
 * Boiling Point:** -195.8 °C (77.35 K, -320.44 °F)
 * Room Temperature:** Gas
 * Number of Protons/Electrons:** 7
 * Number of Neutrons:** 7
 * Classification:** non-metal
 * Crystal Structure:** Hexagonal
 * Group Number:**15
 * Period Number:**2
 * Group Name:** Pnictogen

nitrogen in solid state

nitrogen at gas state

Nitrogen was discovered by chemist and physician Daniel Rutherford in 1772. He removed oxygen and carbon dioxide from air and showed that the residual gas would not support combustion or living organisms. At the same time there were other noted scientists working on the problem of nitrogen. These included Scheele, Cavendish, Priestley, and others. They called it “burnt or dephlogisticated air,” which meant air without oxygen. Small particles can penetrate deeply into sensitive lung tissue and damage it, causing premature death in extreme cases. Inhalation of such particles may cause or worsen respiratory diseases such as emphysema, bronchitis it may also aggravate existing heart disease. So nitrogen can be dangerous to humans. Nitrogen is a common normally colourless, odourless, tasteless and mostly diatomic non-metal gas.

[|TeacherTube - Liquid **Nitrogen**] <-- click here for a video on nirtogen

//Nitrogen in the environment// Nitrogen constitutes 78 percent of Earth's atmosphere and is a constituent of all living tissues. Nitrogen is an essential element for life, because it is a constituent of DNA and, as such, is part of the genetic code. Nitrogen molecules occur mainly in air. In water and soils nitrogen can be found in nitrates and nitrites. All of these substances are a part of the nitrogen cycle, and there are all interconnected.

Humans have changed natural nitrate and nitrite proportions radically, mainly due to the application of nitrate-containing manures. Nitrogen is emitted extensively by industrial companies, increasing the nitrate and nitrite supplies in soil and water as a consequence of reactions that take place in the nitrogen cycle. Nitrate concentrations in drinking water will greatly increase due to this.

//Health Effects:// Nitrates and nitrites are known to cause several health effects. These are the most common effects:

- Reactions with haemoglobin in blood, causing the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood to decrease (nitrite) - Decreased functioning of the thyroid gland (nitrate) - Vitamin A shortages (nitrate) - Fashioning of nitro amines, which are known as one of the most common causes of cancer (nitrates and nitrites)

//Enviromental Hazards://

Humans have radically changed natural supplies of nitrates and nitrites. The main cause of the addition of nitrates and nitrites is the extensive use of fertilizers. Combustion processes can also enhance the nitrate and nitrite supplies, due to the emission of nitrogen oxides that can be converted to nitrates and nitrites in the environment. Nitrates and nitrites also form during chemical production and they are used as food conservers. This causes groundwater and surface water nitrogen concentration, and nitrogen in food to increase greatly.

//Important Compounds it Forms:// Nitrogen has two stable isotopes N14 AND N15 You can buy Nitrogen at local fast foo stores. It is in the food. So you could buy alot of junk food for 100 dollars.