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**Symbol:** N
**Atomic number:** 7
**International title:** nitrogenium
**General formula:** N₂
**Relative Atomic Weight:** 14,007
**Information:** It is a colourless, non-toxic, inert gas without taste and odor. Nitrogen forms two-atom molecules N₂ with a triple bond between them. Nitrogen is a typical non-metals.
**Use:** Nitrogen is produced by fractional distillation of liquefied air and used as a protective atmosphere for chemical reactions. It is an important raw material in the chemical industry (production of ammonia and nitric oxide). Ammonia then produces nitric acid and fertilizers. Liquid nitrogen (temperature -196°C) is used as a cooling device in the health or food industry.
**Occurrence:** Elemental (free) nitrogen forms 78% of the Earth's atmosphere. Bounded, its found in various compounds (eg Chilean NaNO₃, ammonia NH₃ and a number of organic compounds). Nitrogen is a biogenic element (it is contained in proteins and nucleic acids).
