[mass noun]the chemical element of atomic number 7, a colourless, odourless unreactive gas that forms about 78 per cent of the earth's atmosphere. Liquid nitrogen (made by distilling liquid air) boils at 77.4 kelvins (-195.8°C) and is used as a coolant(Symbol: N) (化学元素)氮(符号:N)
Nitrogen forms many important compounds including nitric acid, ammonia, and nitrogenous fertilizers, and many biological molecules such as amino acids and proteins
语源
late 18th cent.: from French nitrogène (see nitro-, -gen)