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Nitrogen is a non-metallic component and is present in group 15 in the periodic table. Nitrogen refers to that gas that is of no color, no taste, and no smell and it is present in the earth’s atmosphere in ample quantities and is an essential part of living. Earth’s atmosphere consists of about 80% of a gas which is known as nitrogen. The chemical symbol of nitrogen is N.
Back in 1790, when it came to light that nitrogen is there in nitric acid and nitrates, then a French chemist Jean Antoine Claude Chaptal proposed to name it nitrogen. The atomic number of nitrogen is 7 and the atomic weight is 14.0067. Nitrogen’s melting point is -209.86 degrees Celsius and its boiling point is -195.8 degrees Celsius. Its density is about 1.2506 grams/liter and has an electron arrangement of 1s2 2s22p3.
IMPORTANCE OF NITROGEN:
Nitrogen is an important element in the chemical industry. When nitrogen is mixed with hydrogen it creates a reaction which in turn creates Ammonia, which can be used in producing fertilizers, nylon, explosives, etc. This process is coming to be known as the Haber process. At an estimate, we can say about 160 million tons of ammonia are created every year by this process. It is not only important in the chemical industry but it can also be used in conserving food, helps in making transistors and diodes which helps in the electronic sector. Liquid nitrogen is often used for storing sperm, eggs, and other things in the medical department as it is used as a refrigerant and it makes the items freeze which helps not to stay in their size, color, texture, etc.
NITROGEN CYCLE:
The nitrogen cycle is that cycle in which the nitrogen gets changed to many chemical forms as it is conveyed amongst the atmosphere, land and water. The change of nitrogen can be done by both biological and geographical processes that’s why a biogeochemical cycle. The nitrogen cycle consists of many steps:
1.NITROGEN FIXATION:
It is the process in which the nitrogen gas is taken from its original form and is changed into nitrogen compounds which are helpful in the biochemical process. The formula of the biological nitrogen fixation is:
N2 + 16ATP + 8e -+ 8H+ = 2NH3 + H2 +16ADP + 16P.
There are 2 types of nitrogen fixation:
1.Physical nitrogen fixation –
these consists of 2 types:
Natural nitrogen fixation–
under natural conditions like thunder and lighting, nitrogen and oxygen react and then take the shape of nitric oxide. Then again oxygen is mixed into nitrogen oxide to make it nitrogen peroxide.
N2 + O2 THUNDER = 2NO (nitrogen oxide)
2NO + O2 = 2NO2 (nitrogen peroxide)
Industrial nitrogen fixation:
By mixing hydrogen and nitrogen at high heat and high force, ammonia is made, which is used in many industries for making fertilizers, nylon, etc.
2.Biological nitrogen fixation:
The process of changing the form of the nitrogen present in the atmosphere into a nitrogenous mixture with the help of living creatures is known as biological nitrogen fixation. This involves 2 types of creatures, one that is free-living and second which lives in close with other plants
2.NITROGEN ASSIMILATION :
The nitrogen and ammonia which come as the outcome of nitrogen fixation are then assimilated into a tissue mixture of algae and plants. Then the animals consume these into their body mixture.
3.AMMONIFICATION:
Ammonia (NH3) And Ammonium (NH4+) can be gathered by the remains of the living creatures which decay. This process is known as Ammonification. Depending on the soil situation, ammonia can be changed into nitrogen compounds.
4.NITRIFICATION:
The process in which the nitrifying bacteria changes the ammonium soil into nitrates(NO3-) so that the plant can absorb into its tissue this process is coming to be known as Nitrification.
5.DENITRIFICATION:
The process of transforming the nitrates into nitrogen gas (N2) after the completion of the nitrogen cycle is known as denitrification. Pseudomonas and Paracoccus perform this process in anaerobic climates e.g. waterlogged soil.
CONCLUSION:
As we came to know that nitrogen is a very important element in our life and is the main component of amino acids which can be used in the production of various enzymes, human tissues, etc. nitrogen can be easily seen at an oxidation state between -3 and +5. Nitrogen is very important for living beings because it is an important part of a biological atom-like protein and nucleic acid. In conclusion, nitrogen is the essential part as without nitrogen many things in this world are impossible and without nitrogen living beings cannot survive.
