Uses of Nitrogen

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.