What is nitrogen
Nitrogen is a chemical element that is identified with the atomic number 7, with an atomic weight of 144.008 and is represented by the letter N.
Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that is present in four-fifths of the air in the atmosphere and occupies 3% of the elemental composition of the human body.
Nitrogen is a metalloid element that is found in the atmosphere in a gaseous state and in multiple organic and inorganic compounds. It is a fundamental component of amino acids and nucleic acids, important for living beings.
The word nitrogen is of Greek origin, composed by the union of the word “nitron” what does it mean “nitrate potassium” and “gene” Which is equivalent to “generation”. It is sometimes called “azote” what does it mean “without life”. However, the person who created this term was the French chemist Jean Antonie Chaptal in 1790.
In the commercial field, ammonia can be obtained through the Haber process through nitrogen. This procedure is used for the production of fertilizers and nitric acid. Nitrogen fertilizers are a source of soil and water pollution.
In the industrial area, nitrogen is used to produce protective atmospheres and as a cryogenic gas to achieve temperatures of 78 Kelvin in a simple and economical way. Additionally, organic nitrogen compounds such as nitroglycerin and trinitrotoluene are explosive, and hydrazine is used as rocket fuel.
Currently, in developed countries, nitrogen is used to inflate tires, since it allows savings and a great ecological contribution by reducing CO₂ emissions.
Cycle of nitrogen
The nitrogen cycle is the biological and chemical processes that provide the supply of the element to living beings. It is one of the essential biogeochemical processes for the dynamic equilibrium of the constitution of the terrestrial biosphere.
The nitrogen cycle consists of several stages:
The first is called nitrogen fixation and assimilation. The second is ammonification, which is the transformation of nitrogen into ammonium ion. Nitrification refers to the biological oxidation of ammonium to nitrate by aerobic microorganisms that use molecular oxygen as an oxidant. In this way, the aforementioned microorganisms can obtain energy and the heterotrophs obtain it by oxidizing organic foods through cellular respiration and denitrification, in which the reduction of the nitrate ion present in the soil or water to diatomic nitrogen occurs.
See also Nitrogen cycle
Liquid nitrogen
liquid nitrogen It is colorless, odorless and has a temperature equal to or lower than its boiling temperature around -195.8 °C..
Nitrogen’s ability to maintain temperatures below the freezing point of water causes anything to freeze instantly.
It is advantageous in different contexts such as: sealing roads in the construction of underwater tunnels, refrigerating and transporting food, freezing water in pipes, cooling astronomy CCD cameras, among others.
Nitrogen in the medical area is used for the preservation of biological samples, such as cells, blood, sperm, eggs, or other types of tissues. It is also used in cryotherapy, for freezing and destroying abnormal skin cells and skin lesions.
Ureic nitrogen
Blood urea nitrogen, known by the acronym BUN for its English translation “Blood urea nitrogen”, is the amount of nitrogen present in the bloodstream in the form of urea. Urea is a substance produced in the liver as a result of non-protein metabolism, which is eliminated by the kidneys.
The blood urea nitrogen test is performed to evaluate kidney function.
Advantages of nitrogen
Nitrogen molecules, in their natural state, are found mainly in the air. In water and soil, nitrogen can be found in the form of nitrates and nitrites.
Nitrates and nitrites are recognized for causing various effects on human health. Nitrite causes a decrease in the blood’s oxygen carrying capacity.
Nitrate stimulates the definition of the functioning of the thyroid gland and produces low storage of vitamin A. Likewise, both benefit the production of nitrosamines, which are the common cause of cancer.
See also: