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

These soil-dwelling microbes fix nitrogen for specialized plants like legumes in return for sugars and protection.

From Science Daily

But unlike nitrogen, another critical soil nutrient, phosphorus is a non-renewable resource with limited geological deposits, meaning that once it moves from land to water, it can't get back into the land.

From Science Daily

Part of the Green Tripartite agreement between the government, the agriculture industry and environmental organisations is to also reduce nitrogen pollution in an effort to restore the coasts and fjords.

From BBC

These are solids formed from large molecules with a significant number of atoms, often including elements like carbon, nitrogen or oxygen, arranged in a ring.

From Science Daily

Although the port has drastically slashed diesel exhaust and nitrogen oxides through cleaner fuels and engines in the past two decades, it is now faced with its stiffest challenge to date: adopting zero-emission technology.

From Los Angeles Times