Glossary
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Nitrogen gas (N2) comprises 78.3% of the earth's atmosphere by volume (75.5% by mass). N
has two stable isotopes, 14N and
15N. The lighter isotope is 272.0 times as abundant as the heavier one;
as a result the atomic weight of N is 14.0067. N2 is chemically unreactive at the temperatures and
pressures of the hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere. It will combine with other elements only
under extreme conditions or when catalyzed by enzymes (See nitrogen fixation). N2 has a low solubility
in water. The Henry's law constant for N2 is 6.6x10-4 mol/(L-atm).
The approximate global inventory of N in the four spheres is given in the table below. The bulk of the N (about
98%) exists in the geosphere, and most of the remainder is found in the atmosphere. Compared with
the other spheres, the hydrosphere and biosphere contain relatively little N, but the N in the biosphere
is highly reactive and is rapidly cycled. The inorganic N species ammonium
(NH4+), nitrite (NO2-), and nitrate
(NO3-) are highly water soluble, and are distributed in dilute aqueous solution throughout
the hydrosphere. Living and dead organic matter also provide actively-cycled reservoirs of N.
Soil organic matter (humus) is a substantial and relatively stable N reservoir in temperate climates.
| Sizes of Global N Reservoir |
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Reservoir/Pool Type
Biosphere
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Geosphere
Crust
Soils and Sediments
Mantle and Core |
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Metric Tons
2.8 x 1011
2.3 x 1013
3.86 x 1015
1.636 x 1017
0.13 - 1.4 x 1016
0.35 - 4.0 x 1015
1.6 x 1017 |
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% of Total
0.0002
0.014
2.3
97.7
0.78-8.4
0.21-2.4
95.6 |
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N is present in many chemical forms (compounds or "species"), both organic and inorganic, in the
atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. It occurs in the gas, liquid (dissolved in water),
and solid phases. N can be associated with carbon (organic species) and with elements other
than carbon (inorganic species). Important inorganic species include N2, nitric acid (HNO3), nitrate
(NO3-), nitrite (NO2-), nitrous oxide (N2O), nitric oxide (NO), N dioxide (NO2), ammonium
(NH4+), and ammonia (NH3). Most organic N species in the four spheres are biomolecules, such as
proteins, peptides, enzymes, and genetic material (RNA and DNA). NO3- and organic-N species exist in solution and
as particulates. The sum of organic and inorganic species of N in both dissolved and particulate forms is often reported as total N.
It is total N for which the USEPA has established new criteria (USEPA, 2000)
The many forms which N can take is a result of its ability to gain and lose electrons to other
elements. The valence range (oxidation states) of N is full: going from loss of all five of its outer-shell electrons (+5) to other elements to the gain of three electrons from other elements (-3) to
completely fill all the electron orbitals of its outer shell. The table below presents several N
species and their oxidation states.
Nitrogen Species and their Oxidation States
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| Species |
Name |
Oxidation State |
| NH3, NH4+ |
Ammonia, ammonium ion |
-3 |
| N2H4 |
Hydrazine |
-2 |
| NH2OH |
Hydroxylamine |
-1 |
| N2 |
Nitrogen |
0 |
| N2O |
Nitrous oxide |
+1 |
| NO |
Nitric oxide |
+2 |
| HNO2, NO2- |
Nitrous acid, nitrite ion |
+3 |
| NO2 |
Nitrogen dioxide |
+4 |
| HNO3, NO3- |
Nitric acid, nitrate ion |
+5 |
N is essential to all forms of life. Many important biomolecules, including proteins and
nucleic acids (RNA, DNA) contain N. Some microorganisms depend on N compounds for energy
production. (See Biological Processes Involving N.)
All N species are bioavailable at various rates.
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