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nitrogen
Definition
Nitrogen is a gas that makes up about 78% of the air we breathe. It is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas. Nitrogen is not very reactive, which means that it does not easily combine with other elements.
Nitrogen is important for life on Earth. Plants need nitrogen to make proteins, which are essential for growth and development. Animals get nitrogen from the plants they eat.
Nitrogen is also used in many industrial processes, such as the production of fertilizers, plastics, and explosives.
How can the word be used?
The word "nitrogen" is related to the words "nitrite" and "nitrate.".
Different forms of the word
Noun: A chemical element with the symbol N and atomic number 7.
Adjective: Relating to nitrogen.
Etymology
The word "nitrogen" comes from the French word "nitrogène," which was coined in 1790 by Jean-Antoine-Claude Chaptal. Chaptal derived the word from the Greek words "nitron" (nitre) and "genēs" (forming).
The word "nitrogen" was first used in English in 1794. It was used to describe the element that was found in nitric acid and nitre.
Question
What is nitrogen and what does it help to make?