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N

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is a chemical element with the symbol N and atomic number 7. It has a standard atomic weight of 14.007, sits in period 2 and group 15, and is classified as a reactive nonmetal.

Properties

SymbolN
Atomic number7
Standard atomic weight14.007
CategoryReactive nonmetal
Group15
Period2
Electron configuration[He] 2s2 2p3
Outer-shell electrons5

The figure of 14.007 is a conventional value, because IUPAC publishes an interval for this element rather than a single weight. For elements like this one the fourth digit carries real uncertainty, because the isotopic composition varies measurably between natural sources — so quoting eight digits would overstate what is known.

Compounds containing nitrogen

218 of the compounds in this reference contain N, listed by the fraction of their mass it makes up.

CompoundFormulaAtoms% by mass
nitrogenN22100.0%
hydrazineH4N2287.4%
ammoniaH3N182.2%
melamineC3H6N6666.6%
sodium azideN3Na364.6%
nitrous oxideN2O263.6%
boron nitrideBN156.4%
metforminC4H11N5554.2%
adenineC5H5N5551.8%
nitric oxideNO146.7%
ureaCH4N2O246.6%
purineC5H4N4446.6%
ethylenediamineC2H8N2246.6%
guanineC5H5N5O546.3%
hydroxylamineH3NO142.4%
allopurinolC5H4N4O441.2%
imidazoleC3H4N2241.1%
ammonium hydroxideH5NO140.0%
cytosineC4H5N3O337.8%
histamineC5H9N3337.8%
creatinineC4H7N3O337.1%
sodium amideH2NNa135.9%
ammonium nitrateH4N2O3235.0%
pyrimidineC4H4N2235.0%
acetonitrileC2H3N134.1%

Showing the 25 with the highest N content, of 218.

Calculate with nitrogen

Group 15

Atomic weights are the IUPAC 2021 standard values, abridged to the conventional five significant figures. Group, period, category and electron configuration are derived from the atomic number rather than stored, so they cannot drift out of step with it.