Atomic Symbol: N
Atomic Number: 7
Discovery: Daniel Rutherford discovered nitrogen in 1772.
In Nature: The nitrogen cycle is a pathway in nature that transforms nitrogen into usable forms. While much of the fixation of nitrogen occurs biologically, nitrogen is fixed by lightning as well.
As a Greenhouse Gas: Compounds of nitrogen (particularly nitrogen oxides NOx) are considered greenhouse gases. Nitrogen is used as a fertilizer in soils, as an ingredient in industrial processes, and is released during the burning of fossil fuels. Sharp rises in the amount of nitrogen compounds measured in the air began during the Industrial Revolution.
In Pollution: Nitrogen compounds are a primary component in the formation of ground-level ozone. In addition to causing respiratory problems, nitrogen compounds in the atmosphere contribute to the formation of acid rain. A free pdf brochure on the problems associated with nitrogen compounds is available from the Environmental Protection Agency – How nitrogen oxides affect the way we live and breathe.
Atomic mass, atomic number, electron configuration and other detailed information on the chemistry of nitrogen is also available from the Chemistry Guide.
Sources:
Los Alamos National Laboratory
EPA.gov Science Advisory Board Staff Office