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Notes 9-6

The document discusses the reduction of dinitrogen oxide by red-hot copper and the industrial preparation of nitrogen through fractional distillation of liquid air. It outlines the physical and chemical properties of nitrogen, its role in the nitrogen cycle including oxidation, nitrogen fixation, and nitrification, as well as its various industrial uses such as ammonia production and as a preservative. Additionally, it describes the process of denitrification, where nitrogen compounds in the soil are converted back to atmospheric nitrogen.

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8 views

Notes 9-6

The document discusses the reduction of dinitrogen oxide by red-hot copper and the industrial preparation of nitrogen through fractional distillation of liquid air. It outlines the physical and chemical properties of nitrogen, its role in the nitrogen cycle including oxidation, nitrogen fixation, and nitrification, as well as its various industrial uses such as ammonia production and as a preservative. Additionally, it describes the process of denitrification, where nitrogen compounds in the soil are converted back to atmospheric nitrogen.

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farouk.ai
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4. Reduction of dinitrogen (I) oxide by red-hot copper.

N2O(g) + Cu(s) → CuO(s) + N2(g)

INDUSTRIAL PREPARATION
The stages in which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into soil nitrogen and back to free
Industrially, nitrogen is obtained by fractional distillation of liquid air. nitrogen occurs in the following ways:

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES 1. Oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen: During lightning and thunderstorm, there is
electrical discharge in the atmosphere which cause atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen
1. It is colourless, odourless and tasteless
combine to form oxides of nitrogen which can dissolve in rain water as dioxonitrate
2. Pure nitrogen is lighter than air.
(III) and trioxonitrate (V) acids. These acids go into the soil and react with mineral salts
3. Slightly soluble in water
in the soil to form trioxonitrate (V) salts which is absorbed by plants.
4. Melting point – 2100C and boiling point is -1960C
N2(g) + O2(g) → 2NO(g)
2NO(g) + O2(g) → 2NO2(g)
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
4NO(g) + O2(g) + 2H2O(l) → 4HNO2(aq)
1. It reacts with very electropositive metals to form nitrides
4NO(g) + O2(g) + 2H2O(l) → 4HNO3(aq)
3Mg(s) + N2(g) → Mg3N2(s)
2. Action of nitrogen-fixing bacteria: Soil micro-organisms like Rhizobium living in root
2. It reacts with non – metals like hydrogen and oxygen to form ammonia and oxides
nodules of leguminous plants are able to convert atmospheric nitrogen into organic
respectively.
nitrogenous compounds which are used directly by the host plants. These compounds
N2(g) + 3H2(g) → 3NH3(g)
are released into the soil when these plants die. Other free living micro-organisms in
N2(g) + 2O2(g) → 2N2O(g) the soil like Azotobacter and Clostridium are also able to convert atmospheric nitrogen
directly into trioxonitrate (V) which is absorbed by plants. These processes are known
as nitrogen fixation.
USES
1. It is used industrially to manufacture ammonia. 3. Decay of organic matter: When plants and animal die, putrefying bacteria and fungi in
2. Liquid nitrogen is used as a cooling agent. the soil converts organic nitrogenous compounds to ammonia. Nitrifying bacteria like
3. It is used as preservative in packaged foods to prevent rancidity. Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter convert the ammonia to trioxonitrate (V) which can
again be absorbed by plants. These processes are known as nitrification.

4. Denitrification: Trioxonitrate (V) salt in the soil can be converted to gaseous nitrogen
by denitrifying bacteria. The process is known as Denitrification. The nitrogen so
formed escapes into the atmosphere, where it becomes atmospheric nitrogen.
Denitrifying bacteria therefore reduces the quantity of trioxonitrate (V) in the soil.

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