Nitrogen makes up 78.1% of the Earth’s atmosphere. It’s the most common uncombined (pure) element on Earth. It’s estimated to be the 5th or 7th most abundant element in the Solar System and Milky Way.
Nitrogen compounds are found in foods, fertilizers, poisons and explosives. Our bodies are 3% nitrogen by weight and found in all living things, including plants and animals.
Nitrogen is responsible for the orange-red; blue-green; blue-violet; and deep violet colors of the Aurora Lights.
Nitrogen is used to protect historic documents like the Declaration of Independence and The Bill of Rights.
Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, is the only moon in the solar system with a dense atmosphere. It’s atmosphere consists of over 98% nitrogen.
Pluto may have once been home to lakes and rivers filled with liquid nitrogen. Scientists say that large flat areas on the dwarf planets’ surface are likely the result of bodies of still liquid, while networks of grooves were possibly cut by rivers of nitrogen, released when changes in Pluto's climate thawed some of the nitrogen ice that still covers its crust.
Nitrogen derives its name from the Greek word nitron, which means “native soda” and genes, which means “forming."