Nitrogen has an atomic number of seven making it the seventh element on the periodic table. A component of protein, nitrogen is a definite necessity to life but in large quantities it can be harmful. It is "the fifth most abundant element in the universe" and is found present in organic materials, foods, fertilisers, explosives and poisons. On Earth nitrogen can be found almost anywhere as it makes up 78% of the Earth's air. (Blaszczak-boxe, 2014) The nitrogen molecules are found mostly in the air however they can are also found in water and soil as nitrates and nitrites which are part of the nitrogen cycle. Natural nitrate and nitrite have been modified by humans who have emitted excess nitrogen, increasing the original proportions. This is due to the manufacturing of nitrate-containing manures by larger industries. The majority of consequences are mostly negative, for example higher levels of nitrate in drinking water causes health risks. (Lenntech, 2016).
Nitrogen is known to be colourless, tasteless and odourless at the standard pressure and temperature. (Pubchem, 2016) In water, nitrogen is also know to be colourless and odourless, it is also said to look like water. (Blaszczak-boxe, 2014) Nitrogen is known mostly to be a diatomic, non-metal gas that contains five outer electrons. (Lenntech, 2016) Made up of 7 electrons and protons, nitrogen has an atomic weight of 14.0067 therefore having 7 neutrons as well. (Pubchem, 2016) The molecular formula for nitrogen is 2N. (Wandell, 2013) This is because a single nitrogen atom has 5 electrons on its outer shell and must combine with either itself of another atom (make a compound) to ensure the molecule is stable. When it combines with itself the atoms share the ten electrons they have altogether which forms a triple bond. This trivalent is "unusually" stable and hard to break apart. (Wandell, 2013).
Here are the following links I have used for the information above:
Blaszczak-boxe, A. (2014). Live Science. Retrieved 28 July, 2016, from http://www.livescience.com/28726-nitrogen.html
Lenntech, B.V. (2016). Lenntechcom. Retrieved 28 July, 2016, from http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/n.htm
Pubchem. (2016). Nihgov. Retrieved 28 July, 2016, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Nitrogen
Wandell, A. (2013). Chemistry LibreTexts. Retrieved 28 July, 2016, from http://chem.libretexts.org/Core/Inorganic_Chemistry/Descriptive_Chemistry/Elements_Organized_by_Block/2_p-Block_Elements/Group_15:_The_Nitrogen_Family/Chemistry_of_Nitrogen
These links have provided detailed explanations on the structures and functions of the atom nitrogen. However I still have a few questions that haven't been answered.
They are;
How do both electron rings spin at the same time whilst sharing between them ten electrons?
How many nitrogen atoms are there until they are able to do harm?
How many nitrogen atoms are in the human body?
What are the electrons, protons and neutrons made of? Are the protons, neutrons or electrons any different in another atom than nitrogen?
I have also learnt some interesting facts about the subject of atoms and in particular, nitrogen. Nitrogen exists almost anywhere as it makes up 78% of the Earth's air, unlike on Mars where it is only 2.6% of the atmosphere. (Blaszczak-boxe, 2014) There are also many health risk of nitrogen. This shows, nitrogen like most other substances on Earth are not just good or bad as they have the ability to harm and regenerate. (Lenntech, 2016) Another fact is that nitrogen is essential to life as it is a component in our DNA. (Lenntech, 2016)
In making the 3D model of the atom, there were many problems and setbacks that occurred. The first shell and sphere for the nucleus were quite easy although the second she proved quite difficult. This was because the second, outer shell had more electrons and the two shells had to spin in different directions but still simultaneously. After a great amount of trial and error and conferencing with others, the atom finally started to come together. The overall program was simple enough however a small mistake would make the difference in the model being right or wrong.
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