Here are four different ways chemists use to show a molecule of nitrogen. In colored molecule models like these, nitrogen is usually blue.
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Windows to the Universe original artwork by Randy Russell.
Nitrogen
There is more nitrogen gas in the air than any other kind of gas. About four out of five of the molecules in Earth's atmosphere is nitrogen gas! A molecule of nitrogen gas is made up of two nitrogen atoms.
There are other kinds of molecules in the atmosphere that have nitrogen atoms in them too such as nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide. They are air pollution that is often made in the engines of cars. They cause other kinds of pollution too like smog and acid rain.
Down on the land, nitrogen atoms are important parts of living creatures. The Nitrogen Cycle explains how nitrogen atoms move around in the environment, including living things like you and me!
Last modified May 4, 2007 by Lisa Gardiner.
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