Nitrogen gas (N 2) makes up approximately three quarters of our atmosphere and there are vast numbers of nitrogencontaining compounds upon which life is built. These range from amino acids, which constitute proteins, to nucleic acids that form DNA. However, nitrogen gas is considered to be unreactive, due to the two atoms being covalently linked via a triple bond (Figure 1) and the lack of polarity within the molecule.
There is great demand for nitrogen-containing compounds industrially, with uses ranging from plastics to fertilisers and compounds used in the synthesis of drugs. How can unreactive nitrogen gas be converted into more reactive compounds that we can use?
Your organisation does not have access to this article.
Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise
Subscribe
