Page 156 - The Periodic Table Book

7
N Nitrogen

Discovery: 1772
7 7 7 State: Gas Titan
The Nitrogen Group Pure nitrogen in a glass sphere Liquid nitrogen
Forms
Saturn’s largest
moon has an atmosphere
containing 48% nitrogen.

This clear and
colourless liquid
forms when nitrogen
is cooled to below
–195°C (–319°F).

Nitratine

Pure nitrogen gas Nitrogen gas gives
is trapped inside off a purple glow
this glass sphere. when electrified.

This is a naturally
occurring form of
sodium nitrate.

Bacteria living
inside plant roots
can take nitrogen
from the air for
Microscopic image use by the plant.
of root nodule

Nitrogen surrounds us all the time because Nitratine is one of the few minerals rich in
it is the transparent gas that makes up nitrogen. Some useful nitrogen compounds
nearly three-quarters of Earth’s atmosphere. can be made by industrial processes. A group
Since pure nitrogen does not react easily, of nitrogen compounds is used in explosives,
its liquid form can be used to freeze and including TNT and nitroglycerine. When
154 preserve items such as blood and tissue samples. ignited, they explode because the bonds
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