The most abundant gas in the air is nitrogen (N2), which represents approximately 78% of the Earth's atmosphere. Oxygen (O2) is the second most abundant gas, with a percentage of about 21%.
The rest of the atmosphere is made up of trace gases, such as argon (Ar), carbon dioxide (CO2) and neon (Ne), among others. Although these gases represent a small fraction of the air, they are important in maintaining the chemical composition and temperature of the Earth's atmosphere at levels suitable for life on our planet.
Importance of nitrogen for life
Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere. It is an essential element for life on Earth, since it is a fundamental component of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins.
Proteins are important molecules that perform a wide variety of functions in organisms, such as transporting nutrients, catalyzing chemical reactions, and providing structure and support to cells.
Importance of nitrogen in genetics
In addition to its role in protein synthesis, nitrogen is also a key component of DNA and RNA, which are the molecular structures that contain genetic information and are essential for cell growth and reproduction.
Nitrogen fixation
However, nitrogen is an inert gas that cannot be used directly by most organisms. In its gaseous form, nitrogen is a very stable gas that cannot be used by most living things.
Therefore, organisms rely on nitrogen fixation processes to convert gaseous nitrogen into forms that can be used by organisms, such as nitrates and nitrites.
Microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi are primarily responsible for nitrogen fixation in nature. These organisms convert gaseous nitrogen into forms that can be used by plants and other organisms that feed on them.
Through the food chain, nitrogen moves through ecosystems and is used by a wide variety of organisms to maintain their biological functions.
Basic characteristics of nitrogen
Nitrogen (N) is a chemical element that has the following basic characteristics:
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Atomic Number and Symbol: Nitrogen has an atomic number of 7 and is represented by the symbol "N" on the periodic table.
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Physical state: Under normal conditions of temperature and pressure, nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, and unreactive diatomic gas.
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Melting and Boiling Point: Nitrogen has a melting point of -210.01 degrees Celsius and a boiling point of -195.8 degrees Celsius.
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Reactivity: Nitrogen in its molecular form (N 2 ) is very stable and does not easily react with other elements or compounds. However, it can form chemical compounds when subjected to appropriate reactions, such as nitrogen fixation by certain bacteria and during industrial processes.
Importance of oxygen for life on Earth
Oxygen is the second most abundant element in the air and one of the most important elements for life on earth.
Cellular respiration
It is essential for cellular respiration, a process by which cells produce energy from glucose and other nutrients. During cellular respiration, oxygen combines with organic compounds in food to produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy in the form of ATP.
The concentration of oxygen in the air is vital for life. A drop in oxygen concentration can have serious consequences for human and animal health, including hypoxia, which can damage the brain and other vital organs.
Maintenance of internal regulation of organisms: homeostasis
In addition to its role in cellular respiration, oxygen is also required to maintain homeostasis in organisms. Homeostasis is the process by which organisms maintain a stable and constant internal environment, despite fluctuations in the external environment.
Therefore, it helps regulate body temperature, and is essential in the function of the immune system, as it helps fight infections and eliminate cellular waste.
Combustion and oxidation processes
Oxygen is also important for most combustion and oxidation processes on Earth, including the burning of fossil fuels, the formation of ozone in the atmosphere, and the oxidation of minerals in the Earth's crust.