nitrogen Hear it!

nitrogen Definition

ni·tro·gen (nī′trə jən)

noun

a colorless, tasteless, odorless, gaseous chemical element forming nearly four fifths of the atmosphere: it is a component of all proteins and nucleic acids: symbol, N; at. no., 7

Etymology: Fr nitrogène: so named (1790) by J. A. Chaptal (1756-1832), Fr chemist < Gr nitron (see niter) + Fr -gène, -gen, because niter resulted when it was sparked with oxygen in the presence of caustic potash

nitrogen Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • dissolve: This allows the diver to incrementally return to the surface, allowing the excess dissolved nitrogen to escape from the body.
  • fix: Increase soil fertility: Leguminous crops can be grown which have the ability to fix nitrogen from the air.
  • absorb: The enzyme absorbs nitrogen which in turn has lowered the air pressure.

Adjective modifier

  • liquid: We started using liquid nitrogen at the Fat Duck five or six years ago.
  • ammoniacal: It then went through biological treatment, which reduced the biological oxygen demand and ammoniacal nitrogen.
  • inorganic: They gather inorganic nitrogen from the soil and convert it into protein as a means of storing it.
  • atmospheric: The Haber process is the fixation of the atmospheric nitrogen.
  • gaseous: Gaseous nitrogen is used in the chemical and petroleum industries for storage tank blanketing.
  • soluble: Premium mixes must contain soluble nitrogen and be able to continue providing enough soluble nitrogen for at least one month of good plant growth.

Modifies a noun

  • oxide: Main Sources Whenever anything is burnt in air, nitrogen oxides are formed.
  • dioxide: The data for nitrogen dioxide from 2000 to 2003 can be found in the document box below.
  • fixation: First, they are looking closely at the enzymes responsible for nitrogen fixation.
  • deposition: The effect of increased atmospheric nitrogen deposition on Calluna vulgaris in upland Britain.
  • fertilizer: Apply a high nitrogen spring lawn fertilizer at the beginning of the month to encourage good, strong growth.
  • narcosis: Designed to reduce the effects of nitrogen narcosis, trimix allows divers to dive deeper than would normally be possible using air or nitrox.

Noun used with modifier

  • urea: For example, blood glucose levels in a diabetic dog or blood urea nitrogen levels for a cat with renal disease.
  • backbone: Now click on the backbone nitrogen of the tryptophan.
  • fertilizer: Effect of fertilizer nitrogen on the protein quality of wheat for ruminants.
  • pollutant: The hi-tech paving slabs have a top layer containing titanium dioxide which helps to break down pollutant nitrogen dioxide gas from car fumes.
  • mineral: The content of soil mineral nitrogen in November was reduced by growing catch crops during the autumn.