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Nitrogen

When ions travelling at very high speeds in the universe collide with gases, such as nitrogen, in the Earth's atmosphere, a spectacle of red, green, blue and violet lights called the Aurora Borealis is created.

Nitrogen is colourless and odourless in both the gaseous and liquid form. This element constitutes approximately 78% of the Earth's atmosphere and is relatively inert.

Like carbon, nitrogen is recycled between organisms and their environment through what is known as the nitrogen cycle. Plants "fix" nitrogen from the atmosphere into important biological molecules that are consumed by animals. Eventually, nitrogen is released, in the form of ammonia (NH₄) and other nitrogen compounds, into the soil where micro-organisms convert the compounds back into nitrogen gas that is thereby returned to the atmosphere.

Biologically, nitrogen (N₂) is not normally as toxic as some of its compounds. However, when exposed to high atmospheric pressures, nitrogen can dissolve in the blood and other body fluids. If the pressure is subsequently decreased drastically, the dissolved nitrogen can form small bubbles that travel throughout the body. This can result in serious health hazards such as paralysis, fainting, muscular pain and difficulty in articulation.

Nitrogen has various industrial and scientific applications. Liquid nitrogen acts as a refrigerant to flash freeze food items and to cool electronic components. At the National Research Council Canada (NRC), scientists use liquid nitrogen at -196°C to store gas hydrates for research purposes.

Additional Information

Learn more about relevant NRC research:

• Energy from Fiery Ice