Question

Nitrogen is a component of air that does not support combustion.

• A. True
• B. False

Answer 1

The correct option is A True

Nitrogen gas is not highly reactive i.e does not support combustion with other molecules in the atmosphere and is mainly present in the air as $N_2$ ($78\%$). Unreactive behavior results from the powerful triple bonds that form between the three pairs of electrons shared between two nitrogen atoms. These bonds have relatively short radii, which requires more energy to break. Nitrogen becomes more reactive at higher temperatures. One common nitrogen-based reaction that occurs in the atmosphere is the formation of nitrogen oxide ($NO$), during storms when lightning strikes.