nitrogen

American  

[nahy-truh-juhn] / ˈnaɪ trə dʒən /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, odorless, gaseous element that constitutes about four-fifths of the volume of the atmosphere and is present in combined form in animal and vegetable tissues, especially in proteins: used chiefly in the manufacture of ammonia, nitric acid, cyanide, explosives, fertilizer, dyes, as a cooling agent, etc. N; 14.0067; 7; density: 1.2506 grams/liter at 0°C and 760 millimeters pressure.

---

nitrogen British  

/ ˈnaɪtrədʒən /

noun

1. 1. a colourless odourless relatively unreactive gaseous element that forms 78 per cent (by volume) of the air, occurs in many compounds, and is an essential constituent of proteins and nucleic acids: used in the manufacture of ammonia and other chemicals and as a refrigerant. Symbol: N; atomic no: 7; atomic wt: 14.00674; valency: 3 or 5; density: 1/ 2506 kg/m³; melting pt: –210.00°C; boiling pt: –195.8°C

   2. ( as modifier )

      nitrogen cycle

---

nitrogen Scientific  

/ nī′trə-jən /

1. A nonmetallic element that makes up about 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume, occurring as a colorless, odorless gas. It is a component of all proteins, making it essential for life, and it is also found in various minerals. Nitrogen is used to make ammonia, nitric acid, TNT, and fertilizers. Atomic number 7; atomic weight 14.0067; melting point −209.86°C; boiling point −195.8°C; valence 3, 5.

2. See Periodic Table See Note at oxygen

---

nitrogen Cultural  

1. A chemical element that makes up about four-fifths of the atmosphere of the Earth. Its symbol is N.

---

Discover More

Like carbon, nitrogen is a necessary element in the tissues of living things.

Etymology

Origin of nitrogen

First recorded in 1785–95; from French nitrogène; nitro-, -gen

Example Sentences

At the same time, it is expensive to produce because it requires limited nutrients such as nitrogen and various minerals.

From Science Daily

These temperatures are far higher than those of earlier superconductors and are above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen, which is why scientists classify them as high temperature superconductors.

From Science Daily

The research team focused on detecting moments when a high-energy neutrino hits a carbon-13 nucleus and converts it into nitrogen-13, a radioactive form of nitrogen that decays roughly ten minutes later.

From Science Daily

Earlier studies tested the idea that perhaps the carbon-fixing archaea were far more efficient than scientists assumed, needing less nitrogen to fix the same amount of carbon.

From Science Daily

"It is quite remarkable that we are now able to take a receptor from barley, make small changes in it, and then nitrogen fixation works again," says Kasper Røjkjær Andersen.

From Science Daily