Nitrogen comprises 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere. It is the most abundant naturally occurring gas.
Volatility and stability in the presence of solar radiation and non-reactivity in most forms are the reasons for its abundance in Earth’s atmosphere.
Oxygen is the second most abundant gas, which is 21%, and Argon is the third most abundant gas at 0.93%.
Nitrogen and oxygen occur as diatomic molecules in the atmosphere. They together constitute 99% of the total gases in the atmosphere.
Other gases in the atmosphere are carbon dioxide, neon, helium, methane, krypton, xenon, iodine, carbon monoxide, and ammonia.
Nitrogen is present in different forms in organisms. There are amino acids, nucleic acids, and adenosine triphosphate.
Daniel Rutherford discovered Nitrogen in 1772.
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