Nitrogen

» Gases

Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless diatomic gas. It is found in group Va of the periodic table . It does not burn, does not support combustion, and is only slightly soluble in water. It is relatively inactive chemically, but many of its compounds display marked reactivity. At high temperatures it reacts with some of the other elements to form nitrides. It is readily liquefied by compression and cooling. It melts at -189.9°C and boils at -42.2°C. Propane occurs in nature in natural gas and (in dissolved form) in crude oil; it is also a byproduct of petroleum refining. It is used chiefly as a fuel. For this purpose it is sold compressed in cylinders of various sizes, often mixed with other hydrocarbons, e.g., butane.