nitrogen
UK: ˈnaɪtrədʒən | US: ˈnaɪtrədʒən
n. A colorless, odorless, inert gaseous element (symbol N) that constitutes about 78% of Earth's atmosphere and is essential for life as a component of proteins and nucleic acids.
The word "nitrogen" was coined in 1790 by French chemist Jean-Antoine Chaptal, combining "nitre" (from Latin nitrum, referring to potassium nitrate, a salt containing nitrogen) and the suffix "-gen" (from Greek -genēs, meaning "producer"). The term reflects nitrogen's role in forming nitre compounds. Earlier, it was called "azote" (from Greek a- "without" + zōē "life") due to its inability to support life alone.
Nitrogen is crucial for plant growth and is often added to fertilizers.
Liquid nitrogen is used in cryogenics to preserve biological samples.
The Haber process converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia for industrial use.
Nitrogen gas is inert, making it useful for packaging perishable foods.
Legumes enrich soil by fixing nitrogen through symbiotic bacteria.