5. Nitrogen: chemical properties

 

  

Nitrogen is inactive at normal conditions. It does not combine with elements at normal conditions, but it combines with elements at high temperature and pressure or in the presence of a catalyst.

 

  

Nitrogen is neither combustible nor support for combustion. Hence, nitrogen in the air moderates the rate of combustion.

 

  

Nitrogen reacts with metals such as lithium (\(Li\)), calcium (\(Ca\)), magnesium (\(Mg\)) (these metals are called electropositive metals), etc., at high temperature and form their corresponding metal nitrides (ionic nitrides).

 

Note: Electropositive means tend to lose electrons to form positive ions.

 

 

  

 

  

Nitrogen reacts with non-metals such as hydrogen (\(H_2\)), oxygen (\(O_2\)) etc., at high temperature to form their corresponding nitrogen compounds.