Nitrogen & Sulphur

Chapter-13
Nitrogen gas
• Nitrogen is in Group 15 of the Periodic Table.
It is a non-metallic element that makes up
about 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere. It exists
as diatomic molecules, N2.
 Unreactivity of Nitrogen

• Nitrogen gas is the main unreactive gas in air

that dilutes the effects of the reactive gas,
oxygen. It has triple covalent bond.
• The triple covalent bond is very strong. Its
bond energy is almost 1000 kJ mol−1.
• This bond is difficult to break and so nitrogen
gas will only react under extreme conditions.
 Nitrogen Cycle
• the nitrogen and oxygen in the air do react together during thunderstorms .
Nitrogen oxides are formed when lightning strikes.
•
The complete oxidation of the nitrogen gas takes place in three steps:
Step 1: Lightning provides the high activation energy needed for the oxidation of the unreactive nitrogen
gas to form nitrogen(II) oxide:N2(g) + O2(g)→2NO(g)

• The nitrogen(II) oxide formed is then further oxidised by oxygen in the air to give nitrogen(IV) oxide, NO 2.
Step 2:2NO (g)+ O2(g) → 2NO2(g)
•
Nitrogen(IV) oxide dissolves in water droplets in the air, and reacts with more oxygen, to form a dilute
solution of nitric acid. The dilute acid falls to the Earth in rain:
Step 3:2NO2(g) + H2O(l)+O2(g) →2 HNO3(aq)

• This sequence of reactions in the atmosphere forms part of the natural nitrogen cycle. In this way
nitrogen
• from unreactive, insoluble nitrogen gas can get into the soil in a soluble form that plants can absorb. The
plants can then use the nitrate ions, NO3−, from the dilute nitric acid to make proteins. These proteins
are essential for healthy growth of the plants.
Ammonia and Ammonium compounds
Ammonium ion
Basicity of Ammonia
Preparation of Ammonia
Nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere
PhotochemicalSmog
Photochemical Smog
Reducing the effects of nitrogen oxides
• car exhaust systems are fitted with catalytic
converters to help reduce the pollutants from motor
vehicles .
• The reaction of pollutant gases inside the converter
takes place on the surface of the hot catalyst, for
example platinum.
• The nitrogen oxides are reduced to form harmless
nitrogen gas, which is released from the vehicle’s
exhaust pipe.
• 2CO(g) + 2NO(g) → 2CO2(g) + N2(g)
Problems
Conclusion
 Eutrophication
• Ammonium compounds that are very important fertilisers.
Ammonium salts commonly used in fertilisers include
ammonium chloride , ammonium nitrate, ammonium
phosphate and ammonium sulfate
• Nitrogen-based fertilisers must be soluble in water for plants
to absorb the nitrate ions they provide.
• This has created an environmental problem. The nitrates can
be washed, or leached, out of the soil by rain into
groundwater. These nitrates can then end up in rivers and
lakes. Once in rivers and lakes, the nitrates promote the
growth of algae (a simple water plant) on the surface, causing
eutrophication
Eutrophication
Disadvantage of using excess fertilizers
• Nitrates have also been detected in our
drinking water, especially in agricultural areas.
People are worried that nitrates in drinking
water cause ‘blue baby’ syndrome (when a
newborn baby’s blood is starved of oxygen), as
well as stomach cancer