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Atomic weight = 14.0067 7N Electron configuration = 1s22s22p3 | |
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Nitrogen is in Group 15 and has a valence electron configuration ns2np3. Nitrogen exists at room temperature and 1 atmosphere pressure as a diatomic gas, N2(g). The nitrogen-nitrogen triple bond is made up of a sigma bond and two pi bonds as shown in the picture to the right. This results in a very strong bond with a bond enthalpy of 944 kJ/mol. Consequently, N2(g) is very inert. Nitrogen fixation is the conversion of nitrogen into useful compounds such as ammonia, NH3. Currently, many researchers are attempting to unravel how nature fixes nitrogen using proteins called nitrogenases. At the present time, the Haber process is the main method of fixing nitrogen but requires high pressure and temperature: N2(g) + 3H2(g) ---> 2NH3(g)
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