Page 7 - Curriculum Visions Dynamic Book

 A nitrogen molecule. The three lines joining the two atoms represent a triple bond, which shows that nitrogen has a high “bond energy”.
Dissolved nitrogen
Nitrogen
dissolve: to break down a substance in a solution without a resultant reaction.
isotope: atoms that have the same number of protons in their nucleus, but which have different masses; for example, carbon-12 and carbon-14.
radioactive: a material that emits radiation or particles from the nucleus of its atoms.
Nitrogen is readily dissolved in body fluids. The greater the pressure, the more gas is dissolved.
At high altitudes, the pressure of the atmosphere is much less than at ground level and aircraft have their cabins pressurised to provide a comfortable environment. Not only
is it essential to provide enough oxygen for breathing, but without this pressure, the levels of nitrogen dissolved in the blood would change quickly, giving rise, as pressures fall, to bubbles of nitrogen forming in the blood and causing the effect that scuba divers call “the bends”, which in flying is known as aeroembolism.
EQUATION: Formation of nitrogen dioxide during lightning flashes
Stage 1: Nitrogen + oxygen ➪ nitric oxide N2(g) + O2(g) ➪ 2NO(g)
Stage 2: Nitric oxide + oxygen ➪ nitrogen dioxide 2NO(g) + O2(g) ➪ 2NO2(g)
EQUATION: Formation of natural acid raindrops after lightning
Nitrogen dioxide + water ➪ nitric acid + nitric oxide (which can react with more oxygen as above)
3NO2(g) + H2O(l) ➪ 2HNO3(aq) + NO(g)
 Auroras are constantly changing glowing lights seen in the night sky, mainly within the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. Auroras result from an interaction between electrons flowing through space and gases in the upper atmosphere. The auroras may occur as veils, curtains and other shapes. A number of colours are associated with auroras, each reflecting the gas that is being bombarded with electrons. Red colours, produced by the bombarding of nitrogen gas, normally fringe the green colours produced by bombardment of oxygen atoms. This picture shows the red fringe of an aurora as seen from space.
 Nitrogen gas is converted to soluble nitrogen dioxide by lightning.
7
7
7