N
Nitrogen
Atomic number: 7Mass: 14.007 uCategory: Nonmetal
About Nitrogen
Nitrogen makes up about 78% of Earth's atmosphere by volume. It is a colourless, odourless, largely inert diatomic gas at standard conditions. Nitrogen is essential for all living organisms as a component of amino acids and DNA.
Properties
Period
2
Group
15
Block
P
Category
Nonmetal
Electronegativity
3.04 (Pauling)
Ionization Energy
1402.3 kJ/mol
Melting Point
63 K (-210°C)
Boiling Point
77 K (-196°C)
Density
1.251 g/L
Oxidation States
-3, -2, -1, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5
Electron Configuration
1s² 2s² 2p³
[He] 2s² 2p³
Shell 1:2e⁻
Shell 2:5e⁻
Real-World Uses
Fertilizers
Food preservation
Liquid nitrogen cooling
Explosives
Airbags
Fun Fact
Lightning strikes convert nitrogen gas into a form plants can absorb — nature's way of making fertilizer!