Definition

1. Noun:
   • A chemical element: A common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and relatively inert diatomic gas. It is a fundamental constituent of all living tissues and makes up approximately 78 percent of the Earth's atmosphere by volume.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Nitrogen is essential for plant growth.
  • The air we breathe is mostly nitrogen.
  • Liquid nitrogen is used to quickly freeze food and biological samples.

Advanced Usage

• "Nitrogen fixation": The chemical process by which atmospheric nitrogen is assimilated into organic compounds, especially by certain microorganisms and industrial processes, making it available for use by plants.
  • Legumes, like beans and peas, have bacteria in their roots that perform nitrogen fixation.
• "Nitrogen cycle": The series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are interconverted in the environment and in living organisms.
  • Understanding the nitrogen cycle is crucial for sustainable agriculture.

Variants and Related Words

• Nitrogenous (adj): Containing nitrogen in chemical combination.
  • Proteins are nitrogenous compounds.
• Denitrification (n): The microbial process of converting nitrates in soil back into atmospheric nitrogen gas.
• Nitrate (n): A salt or ester of nitric acid, containing the anion NO₃⁻, often used as fertilizer.
• Ammonia (n): A nitrogen and hydrogen compound (NH₃) that is a key intermediate in the nitrogen cycle.

Synonyms

• N (Chemical symbol): The standard symbol for nitrogen on the periodic table.
• Azote (Archaic): An old name for nitrogen, from Greek meaning "lifeless," referring to its inability to support life (combustion or respiration) on its own.

Related Phrases and Compounds

• Nitrogen narcosis: A condition of confusion or euphoria caused by breathing nitrogen under high pressure, such as when deep-sea diving.
  • Divers must be trained to manage the risks of nitrogen narcosis.
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx): A group of gases produced from high-temperature combustion, contributing to air pollution and acid rain.

Noun

1. a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues