nitrogen

[ nahy-truh-juhn ]

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

/ 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

/ 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

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

Notes

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of nitrogen¹

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

Example Sentences

In the stratosphere, this electricity excites mostly nitrogen gas.

From Science News For Students

In fast-growing appendages that help them move, the sea stars that perished had high amounts of a form of nitrogen found in low oxygen conditions — a sign that those animals may have died from a lack of oxygen.

From Science News

That’s because in the summer months, heat and sunlight react with the precursor gases in the atmosphere, like nitrogen dioxide, creating a toxic cocktail.

From Science News

As Cahn explained, “You can’t control nitrogen without controlling your irrigation water.”

From MIT Technology Review

Carbon and nitrogen accumulate in tusks over an elephant’s lifetime through the food the animal eats and the water it drinks.

From Science News

There is also more nitrogen in his varieties, and this contributes to a quick restart of fermentation after each filtration.

From The Daily Beast

Grosvenor Place, which runs alongside the palace, has almost four times the maximum permissible amount of nitrogen dioxide.

From The Daily Beast

Fresh out of jail, Dr. Krim receives an anonymous email to check the liquid nitrogen tanks back at her lab.

From The Daily Beast

Achatz revamped his restaurant Alinea with a far-out, multi-course menu and futuristic liquid-nitrogen dishes.

From The Daily Beast

Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, but it cannot be formed by the direct union of these gases.

From Project Gutenberg

The form in which nitrogen may be absorbed has given rise to much difference of opinion.

From Project Gutenberg

Pigeons' dung, according to Boussingault, contains 8·3 per cent of nitrogen, equivalent to 10·0 of ammonia.

From Project Gutenberg

Refuse horse hair generally contains 11 or 12 per cent of nitrogen.

From Project Gutenberg

Dry peat of good quality contains about one per cent of nitrogen, and a quantity of ash varying from five to twenty per cent.

From Project Gutenberg