Nitrogen and Its Compounds


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Nitrogen and Its Compounds

Nitrogen (N) And Its Compounds: Nitrogen is a chemical element (atomic number 7; atomic weight 14.0067). The electronic configuration is (2, 5). Nitrogen is a gas under normal conditions. Its molecular formula is Na. Molecular nitrogen is the principal constituent of the atmosphere (78% by volume of dry air) in which its concentration is a result of the balance between the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by electrical (lightning), and chemical (industrial) action, and its liberation through the decomposition of organic materials by bacteria or combustion. In the combined state, nitrogen occurs in a variety of forms. It is a constituent of all proteins (both plant and animal) as well as of many other organic materials. Itschief mineral source is sodium nitrate.

Ammonia (NH_3): It is a colourless and alkaline gas. It is soluble in water and possesses a choking smell.

Commercially ammonia is manufactured by Haber's process.

The ease of liquefaction and heat absorption make ammonia an effective refrigerant. The largest use of ammonia is as a fertiliser. The ammonia provides nitrogen for the soil in a form in which it can be used by plants. Hydrazine, which is often prepared from ammonia, is used as jet and rocket fuel.

Nitric Acid (HNO_3): It is used in the manufacture of explosives such as nitro-glycerine, guncotton, trinitrotoluene (T.N.T.) and picric acid. It is also used in medicines, celluloid, photographic film, dyes and rayon and nitrogenous fertilisers.

Nitrogen cycle is the collective term for the natural biological and chemical processes through which inorganic and organic nitrogen are inter-converted. In this cycle, nitrogen compounds pass continuously from the soil to living things and back again and, to a lesser extent, from each of these to the atmosphere and back. This process is crucial to the maintenance of life on this planet.

Atmospheric nitrogen cannot be used as such by plants or animals; it is used by plants in the form of compounds such as ammonia or nitrates. Most soils contain some amounts of nitrates in the form of ammonia compounds or in the form of decaying plant and animal matter (humus). Plants use these nitrates as food and convert them into amino acids and proteins. Proteins, in plants, either return to the soil when the plant dies or pass on to animals that consume the plant. The animals return the nitrogenous compounds to the soil through wastes or by decay on death.

Nitrogen does not only constantly circulate between the soil and living things, it also passes back and forth between each of these and the atmosphere.

The conversion of nitrogen from the atmosphere into a form available to plants and, hence to animals and humans is called nitrogen fixation.

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