Nitrogen is a gas. While it's a major component of air, air itself is a mixture of gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and trace amounts of other gases. Therefore, nitrogen is a component of air, not air itself.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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What is Nitrogen? Nitrogen (N₂) is an element and exists as a gas under standard conditions. It is colorless, odorless, and relatively inert.
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What is Air? Air is a mixture of gases. The composition of dry air (by volume) is approximately:
- Nitrogen: ~78%
- Oxygen: ~21%
- Argon: ~0.9%
- Other gases (including carbon dioxide, neon, helium, etc.): ~0.1%
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Why the Distinction Matters: Understanding that air is a mixture is crucial in many scientific and industrial applications. For example, separating nitrogen from air is a common process used in various industries, such as manufacturing ammonia for fertilizers or creating inert atmospheres for sensitive processes.
Therefore, the relationship between nitrogen and air can be summarized as follows: Nitrogen is a gas that is a major component of the gas mixture we call air.
