Nitrogen - a vital powerhouse

Most important biological molecules contain nitrogen, even though it takes lots of energy to make or break its chemical bonds, says Allan Blackman from AUT in ep 56 of Elemental.

Eighty percent of each breath we take is nitrogen gas.

It is ironic that the French word for nitrogen, azote, means "without life', when most important biological molecules contain nitrogen.

Nitrogen molecules are held together by one of the strongest bonds in chemistry. If you could obtain the energy contained in the bonds in a mere 28 grams of nitrogen gas you could use It boil 3 kg of water (starting at room temperature).

Fortunately, nature can break these bonds using the enzyme nitrogenase.

Nitrogen (symbol N, atomic number 7) is an important component of some vitamins. And the name vitamins, by the way, comes from 'vital amines'; amines being organic compounds containing one or more nitrogen atoms.

Nitrogen is a life-saving explosive that is used in airbags in cars, says Allan Blackman in ep 56 of Elemental.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details