← Back to Periodic Table
N 7

Nitrogen (N)

nonmetal
Period: 2 Group: 15 Block: s

Gas

Standard Atomic Weight

14.007 u [14.00643, 14.00728]

Electron configuration

2s2.2p3

Melting point

-210 °C (63.15 K)

Boiling point

-195.79 °C (77.36 K)

Density

1.2506 kg/m³

Oxidation states

−3, −2, −1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5

Electronegativity (Pauling)

3.04

Ionization energy (1st)

Discovery year

1772

Atomic radius

65 pm

Details

Name origin Greek: nitron and genes, (soda forming).
Discovery country Scotland
Discoverers Daniel Rutherford

Nitrogen is a light nonmetal and the main constituent of Earth’s atmosphere as N₂. Its strong N≡N triple bond makes the element relatively inert at ordinary conditions, yet nitrogen chemistry is exceptionally rich once that bond is broken. It is essential in amino acids, nucleic acids, and many cofactors, and industrial fixation of N₂ underpins modern fertilizer production. Nitrogen commonly forms covalent compounds and spans oxidation states from −3 to +5.

Colourless, gaseous element which belongs to group 15 of the periodic table. Constitutes ~78% of the atmosphere and is an essential part of the ecosystem. Nitrogen for industrial purposes is acquired by the fractional distillation of liquid air. Chemically inactive, reactive generally only at high temperatures or in electrical discharges. It was discovered in 1772 by D. Rutherford.

The name derives from the Latin nitrum and Greek nitron for "native soda" and genes for "forming". Nitrogen was discovered by the Scottish physician and chemist Daniel Rutherford in 1772.

Nitrogen was discovered by the Scottish physician Daniel Rutherford in 1772. It is the fifth most abundant element in the universe and makes up about 78% of the earth's atmosphere, which contains an estimated 4,000 trillion tons of the gas. Nitrogen is obtained from liquefied air through a process known as fractional distillation.

From the Latin word nitrum, Greek Nitron, native soda; and genes, forming. Nitrogen was discovered by chemist and physician Daniel Rutherford in 1772. He removed oxygen and carbon dioxide from air and showed that the residual gas would not support combustion or living organisms. At the same time there were other noted scientists working on the problem of nitrogen. These included Scheele, Cavendish, Priestley, and others. They called it "burnt" or" dephlogisticated air," which meant air without oxygen.

Read about Nitrogen on Wikipedia

Images

Properties

Physical

Atomic radius (empirical) 65 pm
Covalent radius 71 pm
Van der Waals radius 155 pm
Density
Molar volume 0.0173 L/mol
Phase at STP gas
Melting point -210 °C
Boiling point -195.79 °C
Thermal conductivity 0.026 W/(m·K)
Specific heat capacity 1.04 J/(g·K)
Molar heat capacity 29.124 J/(mol·K)
Crystal structure hcp

Chemical

Electronegativity (Pauling) 3.04
Electronegativity (Allen) 3.066
Electron affinity
Ionization energy (1st)
Ionization energy (2nd)
Ionization energy (3rd)
Ionization energy (4th)
Ionization energy (5th)
Oxidation states −3, −2, −1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5
Valence electrons 5
Electron configuration

Thermodynamic

Triple point (temperature) -209.999 °C
Triple point (pressure) 1.252000e+4 Pa
Critical point (temperature) -146.958 °C
Critical point (pressure) 3.395800e+6 Pa
Heat of fusion 0.00373115 eV
Heat of vaporization 0.05762554 eV
Heat of atomization 4.899 eV
Atomization enthalpy

Nuclear

Stable isotopes 2
Discovery year 1772

Abundance

Abundance (Earth's crust) 19 mg/kg
Abundance (ocean)

Reactivity

N/A

Crystal Structure

Lattice constant a 403.9 pm

Electronic Structure

Electrons per shell 2, 5

Identifiers

CAS number 7727-37-9
Term symbol
InChI InChI=1S/N
InChI Key QJGQUHMNIGDVPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Electron Configuration Measured

Ion charge
Protons 7
Electrons 7
Charge Neutral
Configuration N: 2s² 2p³
Electron configuration
Measured
[He] 2s² 2p³
1s² 2s² 2p³
Orbital diagram
1s
2/2
2s
2/2
2p
3/6 3↑
Total electrons: 7 Unpaired: 3 ?

Atomic model

Protons 7
Neutrons 7
Electrons 7
Mass number 14
Stability Stable

Isotopes change neutron count, mass, and stability — not the electron configuration of a neutral atom.

Schematic atomic model, not to scale.

Atomic Fingerprint

Emission / Absorption Spectrum

25 / 50 (50 with intensity)
Measured
Emission Visible: 380–750 nm
Source: NIST Atomic Spectra Database Wavelengths in air

Isotope Distribution

1499.6360%150.3640%Mass numberNatural abundance (%)
Mass numberAtomic mass (u)Natural abundanceHalf-life
14 Stable14.00307400443 ± 0.000000000299.6360%Stable
15 Stable15.00010889888 ± 0.000000000640.3640%Stable
Measured

Phase / State

1 atm / 101.325 kPa
Gas 25 °C (298.15 K)

Reason: 220.8 °C above boiling point (-195.79 °C)

Melting point -210 °C
Boiling point -195.79 °C
Above boiling by 220.8 °C
0 K Current temperature: 25 °C 6000 K
Phase timeline

Schematic, not to scale

Solid
Liquid
Gas
Melting
Boiling
25°C
Solid
Liquid
Gas
Current

Phase transition points

Melting point Literature
-210 °C
Boiling point Literature
-195.79 °C
Current phase Calculated
Gas

Transition energies

Heat of fusion Literature
0.00373115 eV

Energy required to melt 1 mol at melting point

Heat of vaporization Literature
0.05762554 eV

Energy required to vaporize 1 mol at boiling point

Density

Reference density Literature
1.2506 kg/m³

At standard conditions

Current density Estimated
0.57251681 kg/m³

Estimated via ideal gas law at current T

Advanced

Triple point Literature
-209.999 °C
Critical point Literature
-146.958 °C

Atomic Spectra

Lines Holdings ?

IonChargeTotal linesTransition probabilitiesLevel designations
N I 0130912871287
N II +1809786786
N III +2137813591359
N IV +3536531531
N V +4442402433
N VI +5919091
N VII +6137137137
NIST Lines Holdings →

Levels Holdings ?

IonChargeLevels
N I 0381
N II +1197
N III +2347
N IV +3292
N V +4151
N VI +5148
N VII +6149
NIST Levels Holdings →
7 N 14.006855

Nitrogen — Atomic Orbital Visualizer

2s2.2p3
Energy levels 2 5
Oxidation states -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5
HOMO 2p n=2 · l=1 · m=-1
Nitrogen — Atomic Orbital Visualizer Preview
Three.js loads only on request
7 N 14.006855

Nitrogen — Crystal Structure Visualizer

Primitive Hexagonal · Pearson hP2
Experimental
Pearson hP2
Coord. № 12
Packing 74.048%
No crystal structure at standard conditions — gas at 298 K, 1 atm
Solid phase structure at 293 K
Nitrogen — Crystal Structure Visualizer Preview
Three.js loads only on request

Ionic Radii

ChargeCoordinationSpinRadius
-34N/A146 pm
+36N/A16 pm
+56N/A13 pm

Compounds

N
14.007 u
N
13.006 u
N+
14.007 u
N-
14.007 u

Isotopes (2)

Mass numberAtomic mass (u)Natural abundanceHalf-lifeDecay mode
14 Stable14.00307400443 ± 0.000000000299.6360% ± 0.0200%Stable
stable
15 Stable15.00010889888 ± 0.000000000640.3640% ± 0.0200%Stable
stable
14 Stable
Atomic mass (u) 14.00307400443 ± 0.0000000002
Natural abundance 99.6360% ± 0.0200%
Half-life Stable
Decay mode
stable
15 Stable
Atomic mass (u) 15.00010889888 ± 0.00000000064
Natural abundance 0.3640% ± 0.0200%
Half-life Stable
Decay mode
stable

Spectral Lines

Showing 50 of 731 Spectral Lines. Only spectral lines with measured intensity are shown by default.

Wavelength (nm)IntensityIon stageTypeTransitionAccuracySource
399.4997 nm1000N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 1P* → 2s2.2p.3p 1DMeasuredNIST
746.8312 nm900N Iemission2s2.2p2.(3P).3s 4P → 2s2.2p2.(3P).3p 4S*MeasuredNIST
463.0539 nm870N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 3P* → 2s2.2p.3p 3PMeasuredNIST
500.515 nm870N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 3D → 2s2.2p.3d 3F*MeasuredNIST
567.956 nm870N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 3P* → 2s2.2p.3p 3DMeasuredNIST
744.2298 nm785N Iemission2s2.2p2.(3P).3s 4P → 2s2.2p2.(3P).3p 4S*MeasuredNIST
648.205 nm750N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 1P* → 2s2.2p.3p 1PMeasuredNIST
661.056 nm750N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 1D → 2s2.2p.3d 1F*MeasuredNIST
575.2499 nm700N Iemission2s2.2p2.(3P).3p 4P* → 2s2.2p2.(3P).5d 4DMeasuredNIST
742.3641 nm685N Iemission2s2.2p2.(3P).3s 4P → 2s2.2p2.(3P).3p 4S*MeasuredNIST
444.703 nm650N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 1P → 2s2.2p.3d 1D*MeasuredNIST
500.1474 nm650N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 3D → 2s2.2p.3d 3F*MeasuredNIST
566.663 nm650N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 3P* → 2s2.2p.3p 3DMeasuredNIST
594.165 nm650N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 3P → 2s2.2p.3d 3D*MeasuredNIST
460.1478 nm550N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 3P* → 2s2.2p.3p 3PMeasuredNIST
464.3086 nm550N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 3P* → 2s2.2p.3p 3PMeasuredNIST
500.7328 nm550N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 3S → 2s2.2p.3d 3P*MeasuredNIST
504.5099 nm550N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 3P* → 2s2.2p.3p 3SMeasuredNIST
567.602 nm550N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 3P* → 2s2.2p.3p 3DMeasuredNIST
593.178 nm550N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 3P → 2s2.2p.3d 3D*MeasuredNIST
395.5851 nm450N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 3P* → 2s2.2p.3p 1DMeasuredNIST
460.7153 nm450N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 3P* → 2s2.2p.3p 3PMeasuredNIST
462.1393 nm450N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 3P* → 2s2.2p.3p 3PMeasuredNIST
480.3287 nm450N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 3D → 2s2.2p.3d 3D*MeasuredNIST
499.436 nm450N IIemission2s.2p2.(4P).3s 5P → 2s.2p2.(4P).3p 5P*MeasuredNIST
501.0621 nm450N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 3P* → 2s2.2p.3p 3SMeasuredNIST
549.5655 nm450N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 3P → 2s2.2p.3d 3P*MeasuredNIST
568.621 nm450N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 3P* → 2s2.2p.3p 3DMeasuredNIST
571.077 nm450N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 3P* → 2s2.2p.3p 3DMeasuredNIST
391.9001 nm360N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 1P → 2s2.2p.3d 1P*MeasuredNIST
461.3868 nm360N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 3P* → 2s2.2p.3p 3PMeasuredNIST
500.2703 nm360N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 3P* → 2s2.2p.3p 3SMeasuredNIST
501.6381 nm360N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 3D → 2s2.2p.3d 3F*MeasuredNIST
502.5659 nm360N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 3D → 2s2.2p.3d 3F*MeasuredNIST
592.781 nm360N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 3P → 2s2.2p.3d 3D*MeasuredNIST
637.962 nm360N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 3P* → 2s2.2p.3p 1PMeasuredNIST
648.2699 nm360N Iemission2s2.2p2.(3P).3p 4D* → 2s2.2p2.(3P).4d 4FMeasuredNIST
460.374 nm350N Vemission1s2.3s 2S → 1s2.3p 2P*MeasuredNIST
648.4808 nm325N Iemission2s2.2p2.(3P).3p 4D* → 2s2.2p2.(3P).4d 4FMeasuredNIST
648.3753 nm300N Iemission2s2.2p2.(3P).3p 4D* → 2s2.2p2.(3P).4d 4FMeasuredNIST
383.8374 nm285N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 3P → 2s2.2p.4s 3P*MeasuredNIST
422.7736 nm285N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 1D → 2s2.2p.4s 1P*MeasuredNIST
478.8138 nm285N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 3D → 2s2.2p.3d 3D*MeasuredNIST
489.5117 nm285N IIemission2s.2p3 1D* → 2s2.2p.3p 1PMeasuredNIST
498.7376 nm285N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 3S → 2s2.2p.3d 3P*MeasuredNIST
553.5347 nm285N IIemission2s.2p2.(4P).3s 5P → 2s.2p2.(4P).3p 5D*MeasuredNIST
574.73 nm285N IIemission2s2.2p.3s 1P* → 2s2.2p.3p 3DMeasuredNIST
594.024 nm285N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 3P → 2s2.2p.3d 3D*MeasuredNIST
595.239 nm285N IIemission2s2.2p.3p 3P → 2s2.2p.3d 3D*MeasuredNIST
616.775 nm285N IIemission2s2.2p.3d 3F* → 2s2.2p.4p 3DMeasuredNIST

Extended Properties

Covalent Radii (Extended)

Covalent radius (Pyykkö)  
Covalent radius (Pyykkö, double)  
Covalent radius (Pyykkö, triple)  
Covalent radius (Bragg)  

Van der Waals Radii

Bondi  
Batsanov  
Alvarez  
UFF  
MM3  
Dreiding  
Rowland–Taylor  

Atomic & Metallic Radii

Atomic radius (Rahm)  
Metallic radius (C12)  

Numbering Scales

Mendeleev
Pettifor
Glawe

Electronegativity Scales

Ghosh
Miedema
Gunnarsson–Lundqvist
Robles–Bartolotti

Polarizability & Dispersion

Dipole polarizability  
Dipole polarizability (unc.)  
C₆  
C₆ (Gould–Bučko)  

Chemical Affinity

Proton affinity  
Gas basicity  

Miedema Parameters

Miedema molar volume  
Miedema electron density

Phase Transitions & Allotropes

Melting point63.15 K
Boiling point77.35 K
Critical point (temperature)126.19 K
Critical point (pressure)3.4 MPa
Triple point (temperature)63.15 K
Triple point (pressure)12.52 kPa

Oxidation State Categories

−3 main
+2 extended
−1 extended
+5 main
−2 extended
+3 main
0 extended
+1 extended
+4 extended

Advanced Reference Data

Screening Constants (3)
nOrbitalσ
1s0.3349
2p3.166
2s3.1526
Crystal Radii Detail (4)
ChargeCNSpinrcrystal (pm)Origin
-3IV132
3VI30Ahrens (1952) ionic radius,
5III4.4
5VI27Ahrens (1952) ionic radius,
Isotope Decay Modes (33)
IsotopeModeIntensity
10p—
11p100%
12B+100%
12B+A1.9%
13B+100%
16B-100%
16B-A0%
17B-100%
17B-n95.1%
17B-A0%
X‑ray Scattering Factors (503)
Energy (eV)f₁f₂
10—0.67785
10.1617—0.68963
10.3261—0.70162
10.4931—0.71382
10.6628—0.72623
10.8353—0.73885
11.0106—0.7517
11.1886—0.76584
11.3696—0.78603
11.5535—0.80674

Additional Data

Sources

Sources of this element.

Nitrogen gas (N2) makes up 78.1% of the Earth’s air, by volume. The atmosphere of Mars, by comparison, is only 2.6% nitrogen. From an exhaustible source in our atmosphere, nitrogen gas can be obtained by liquefaction and fractional distillation. Nitrogen is found in all living systems as part of the makeup of biological compounds.

References (1)

Isotopes in Forensic Science and Anthropology

Information on the use of this element's isotopes in forensic science and anthropology.

Stable hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen isotopic compositions are used to determine the origin of pseudoephedrine from seized methyl-amphetamine made from the pseudoephedrine (drug used as a nasal decongestant or as a stimulant) [91] [91] H. Salouros, G. J. Sutton, J. Howes, D. B. Hibbert, M. Collins. Anal. Chem.85, 9400 (2013).[91] H. Salouros, G. J. Sutton, J. Howes, D. B. Hibbert, M. Collins. Anal. Chem.85, 9400 (2013)..

References (2)
  • [91] H. Salouros, G. J. Sutton, J. Howes, D. B. Hibbert, M. Collins. Anal. Chem.85, 9400 (2013).
  • [4] IUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements and Isotopes (IPTEI) https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2015-0703

References

(9)
2 Atomic Mass Data Center (AMDC), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
N

The half-life and atomic mass data was provided by the Atomic Mass Data Center at the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Visit source License
3 IUPAC Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW)
Nitrogen

Element data are cited from the Atomic weights of the elements (an IUPAC Technical Report). The IUPAC periodic table of elements can be found at https://iupac.org/what-we-do/periodic-table-of-elements/. Additional information can be found within IUPAC publication doi:10.1515/pac-2015-0703 Copyright © 2020 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

Visit source License
4 IUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements and Isotopes (IPTEI)

The information are cited from Pure Appl. Chem. 2018; 90(12): 1833-2092, https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2015-0703.

Visit source License
License note: Copyright (c) 2020 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) contribution within Pubchem is provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license, unless otherwise stated.
5 Jefferson Lab, U.S. Department of Energy
Nitrogen

Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) is one of 17 national laboratories funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The lab's primary mission is to conduct basic research of the atom's nucleus using the lab's unique particle accelerator, known as the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF). For more information visit https://www.jlab.org/

Visit source License
License note: Please see citation and linking information: https://education.jlab.org/faq/index.html
6 Los Alamos National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy
Nitrogen

The periodic table at the LANL (Los Alamos National Laboratory) contains basic element information together with the history, source, properties, use, handling and more. The provenance data may be found from the link under the source name.

Visit source License
7 NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory
Nitrogen

The periodic table contains NIST's critically-evaluated data on atomic properties of the elements. The provenance data that include data for atomic spectroscopy, X-ray and gamma ray, radiation dosimetry, nuclear physics, and condensed matter physics may be found from the link under the source name. Ref: https://www.nist.gov/pml/atomic-spectra-database

Visit source License
8 PubChem Elements
Nitrogen

This section provides all form of data related to element Nitrogen.

License
9 PubChem Elements
Nitrogen

The element property data was retrieved from publications.

License

Last updated:

Data verified:

Content is reviewed against latest scientific data.