Uses of Nitrogen

By: Want To Know It

Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and mostly inert (unreactive) gas. This post will take you through some of the common uses of nitrogen.

Uses of Nitrogen

• Nitrogen is used to preserve packaged foods by stopping the oxidation of food which causes it to go ‘off’.
• Light bulbs may contain nitrogen as a cheaper alternative to argon.
• Nitrogen gas is often used on top of liquid explosive to keep them from exploding!
• Nitrogen is used to produce many electrical parts such as transistors, diodes and integrated circuits.
• When dried and pressurized, nitrogen gas is used as a dielectric gas for high voltage equipment.
• Used to manufacture stainless steel.
• Used to reduce the fire hazard in military aircraft fuel systems.
• Nitrogen gas is used to fill the tires of aircraft and automobiles (cars). However, commercially sold cars just use normal air.
• Nitrogen tanks are gradually replacing carbon dioxide tanks as the power source of paintball guns.
• It can also be used as an alternative to carbon dioxide in pressurizing beer. Nitrogen gas makes smaller bubbles so the beer is smoother.
• Liquid nitrogen is used to preserve (called cryopreservation because of the low temperature) of blood, sperm and egg and other biological samples. It is also used to cool X-ray detectors and central processing units in computers when they are hot.
• Nitrogen is a component of nearly every pharmacological drug. Laughing gas (nitrous oxide) can be used as an anesthetic.

Related Topics

Who Discovered Nitrogen

Uses of Carbon

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