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Periodic table · chemistry · physics
Element story

Nitrogen

Atomic number 7 means that every Nitrogen nucleus contains 7 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Nitrogen.

Start with the nucleus

Atomic number 7 means that every Nitrogen nucleus contains 7 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Nitrogen.

Nitrogen (N) is chemical element 7. It belongs to the nonmetals, and its reference state at room temperature is a gas. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

In practice, it turns up most often in the atmosphere, fertiliser production and cryogenics.

See the atom

Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.

What this number means

Atomic number 7 means that every Nitrogen nucleus contains 7 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Nitrogen.

Keep exploring

→ Nitrogen · Atomic structure · Periodic trends

7NNitrogen
Nitrogen · N · Z = 7

Nitrogen (N) is chemical element 7. It belongs to the nonmetals, and its reference state at room temperature is a gas. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Understanding the element

Nitrogen (N) is chemical element 7. It belongs to the nonmetals, and its reference state at room temperature is a gas. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Where do we encounter it?

In practice, it turns up most often in the atmosphere, fertiliser production and cryogenics.

What its position in the table tells us

Nitrogen sits in period 2, group 15 and the P block. That location is useful because neighbouring elements often share trends in valence electrons, oxidation states and bonding behaviour.