# Nitrogen compounds

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{{Short description|Any chemical compound having at least one nitrogen atom}}
The chemical element nitrogen is one of the most abundant elements in the universe and can form many compounds. It can take several [oxidation state](/source/oxidation_state)s; but the most common oxidation states are −3 and +3. Nitrogen can form [nitride](/source/nitride) and [nitrate](/source/nitrate) ions. It also forms a part of [nitric acid](/source/nitric_acid) and nitrate salts. Nitrogen compounds also have an important role in organic chemistry, as nitrogen is part of [protein](/source/protein)s, amino acids and [adenosine triphosphate](/source/adenosine_triphosphate).

==Dinitrogen complexes==
{{main|Dinitrogen complex}}
[[File:RuA5N2.png|thumb|class=skin-invert-image|right|Structure of [Ru(NH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>5</sub>(N<sub>2</sub>)]<sup>2+</sup> ([pentaamine(dinitrogen)ruthenium(II)](/source/pentaamine(dinitrogen)ruthenium(II)_chloride)), the first dinitrogen complex to be discovered]]
The first example of a [dinitrogen complex](/source/dinitrogen_complex) to be discovered was [Ru(NH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>5</sub>(N<sub>2</sub>)]<sup>2+</sup> (see figure at right), and soon many other such complexes were discovered. These [complexes](/source/Complex_(chemistry)), in which a nitrogen molecule donates at least one lone pair of electrons to a central metal cation, illustrate how N<sub>2</sub> might bind to the metal(s) in [nitrogenase](/source/nitrogenase) and the [catalyst](/source/Catalysis) for the [Haber process](/source/Haber_process): these processes involving dinitrogen activation are vitally important in biology and in the production of fertilisers.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Fryzuk, M. D.|author2=Johnson, S. A.|name-list-style=amp|title=The continuing story of dinitrogen activation|journal=Coordination Chemistry Reviews|volume=200–202|page=379|year=2000|doi=10.1016/S0010-8545(00)00264-2}}</ref><ref name="Schrock">{{Cite journal|author=Schrock, R. R.|title=Catalytic Reduction of Dinitrogen to Ammonia at a Single Molybdenum Center|journal=[Acc. Chem. Res.](/source/Acc._Chem._Res.)|year=2005|volume=38|issue=12|pmid=16359167|pages=955–62|pmc=2551323|doi=10.1021/ar0501121|author-link=Richard R. Schrock}}</ref>

Dinitrogen is able to coordinate to metals in five different ways. The more well-characterised ways are the end-on M←N≡N (''[η](/source/hapticity)''<sup>1</sup>) and M←N≡N→M (''[μ](/source/bridging_ligand)'', bis-''η''<sup>1</sup>), in which the lone pairs on the nitrogen atoms are donated to the metal cation. The less well-characterised ways involve dinitrogen donating electron pairs from the triple bond, either as a [bridging ligand](/source/bridging_ligand) to two metal cations (''μ'', bis-''η''<sup>2</sup>) or to just one (''η''<sup>2</sup>). The fifth and unique method involves triple-coordination as a bridging ligand, donating all three electron pairs from the triple bond (''μ''<sub>3</sub>-N<sub>2</sub>). A few complexes feature multiple N<sub>2</sub> ligands and some feature N<sub>2</sub> bonded in multiple ways. Since N<sub>2</sub> is isoelectronic with [carbon monoxide](/source/carbon_monoxide) (CO) and [acetylene](/source/acetylene) (C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub>), the bonding in dinitrogen complexes is closely allied to that in [carbonyl](/source/carbonyl) compounds, although N<sub>2</sub> is a weaker ''σ''-donor and ''π''-acceptor than CO. Theoretical studies show that ''σ'' donation is a more important factor allowing the formation of the M–N bond than [''π'' back-donation](/source/Pi_backbonding), which mostly only weakens the N–N bond, and end-on (''η''<sup>1</sup>) donation is more readily accomplished than side-on (''η''<sup>2</sup>) donation.<ref name=Greenwood412>{{cite book|last1=Greenwood |first1=Norman N. |author-link1=Norman Greenwood |last2=Earnshaw |first2=Alan |year=1997 |title=Chemistry of the Elements |edition=2nd |publisher=[Butterworth-Heinemann](/source/Butterworth-Heinemann) |isbn=978-0-08-037941-8}}</ref>

Today, dinitrogen complexes are known for almost all the [transition metal](/source/transition_metal)s, accounting for several hundred compounds. They are normally prepared by three methods:<ref name="Greenwood412" />
# Replacing labile ligands such as [H<sub>2</sub>O](/source/water), [H<sup>−</sup>](/source/hydride), or [CO](/source/carbon_monoxide) directly by nitrogen: these are often reversible reactions that proceed at mild conditions.
# Reducing metal complexes in the presence of a suitable coligand in excess under nitrogen gas. A common choice include replacing chloride ligands by [dimethylphenylphosphine](/source/dimethylphenylphosphine) (PMe<sub>2</sub>Ph) to make up for the smaller number of nitrogen ligands attached than the original chlorine ligands.
# Converting a ligand with N–N bonds, such as hydrazine or azide, directly into a dinitrogen ligand.
Occasionally the N≡N bond may be formed directly within a metal complex, for example by directly reacting coordinated [ammonia](/source/ammonia) (NH<sub>3</sub>) with [nitrous acid](/source/nitrous_acid) (HNO<sub>2</sub>), but this is not generally applicable. Most dinitrogen complexes have colours within the range white-yellow-orange-red-brown; a few exceptions are known, such as the blue [{Ti(''η''<sup>5</sup>-C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>5</sub>)<sub>2</sub>}<sub>2</sub>-(N<sub>2</sub>)].<ref name="Greenwood412" />

==Nitrides, azides, and nitrido complexes==
Nitrogen bonds to almost all the elements in the periodic table except the first three [noble gas](/source/noble_gas)es, [helium](/source/helium), [neon](/source/neon), and [argon](/source/argon), and some of the very short-lived elements after [bismuth](/source/bismuth), creating an immense variety of binary compounds with varying properties and applications.<ref name="Greenwood412" /> Many binary compounds are known: with the exception of the nitrogen hydrides, oxides, and fluorides, these are typically called [nitride](/source/nitride)s. Many stoichiometric phases are usually present for most elements (e.g. MnN, Mn<sub>6</sub>N<sub>5</sub>, Mn<sub>3</sub>N<sub>2</sub>, Mn<sub>2</sub>N, Mn<sub>4</sub>N, and Mn<sub>''x''</sub>N for 9.2 < ''x'' < 25.3). They may be classified as "salt-like" (mostly ionic), covalent, "diamond-like", and metallic (or [interstitial](/source/interstitial_compound)), although this classification has limitations generally stemming from the continuity of bonding types instead of the discrete and separate types that it implies. They are normally prepared by directly reacting a metal with nitrogen or ammonia (sometimes after heating), or by [thermal decomposition](/source/thermal_decomposition) of metal amides:<ref name="Greenwood417">Greenwood and Earnshaw, pp. 417–20</ref>
:3 Ca + N<sub>2</sub> → Ca<sub>3</sub>N<sub>2</sub>
:3 Mg + 2 NH<sub>3</sub> → Mg<sub>3</sub>N<sub>2</sub> + 3 H<sub>2</sub> (at 900&nbsp;°C)
:3 Zn(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> → Zn<sub>3</sub>N<sub>2</sub> + 4 NH<sub>3</sub>
Many variants on these processes are possible. The most ionic of these nitrides are those of the [alkali metal](/source/alkali_metal)s and [alkaline earth metal](/source/alkaline_earth_metal)s, Li<sub>3</sub>N (Na, K, Rb, and Cs do not form stable nitrides for steric reasons) and M<sub>3</sub>N<sub>2</sub> (M = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba). These can formally be thought of as salts of the N<sup>3−</sup> anion, although charge separation is not actually complete even for these highly electropositive elements. However, the alkali metal [azide](/source/azide)s NaN<sub>3</sub> and KN<sub>3</sub>, featuring the linear {{chem|N|3|-}} anion, are well-known, as are Sr(N<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub> and Ba(N<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>. Azides of the B-subgroup metals (those in [groups 11](/source/group_11_element) through [16](/source/chalcogen)) are much less ionic, have more complicated structures, and detonate readily when shocked.<ref name="Greenwood417" />

thumb|class=skin-invert-image|right|upright=1.8|Mesomeric structures of borazine, (–BH–NH–)<sub>3</sub>
Many covalent binary nitrides are known. Examples include [cyanogen](/source/cyanogen) ((CN)<sub>2</sub>), [triphosphorus pentanitride](/source/triphosphorus_pentanitride) (P<sub>3</sub>N<sub>5</sub>), [disulfur dinitride](/source/disulfur_dinitride) (S<sub>2</sub>N<sub>2</sub>), and [tetrasulfur tetranitride](/source/tetrasulfur_tetranitride) (S<sub>4</sub>N<sub>4</sub>). The essentially covalent [silicon nitride](/source/silicon_nitride) (Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>) and [germanium nitride](/source/germanium_nitride) (Ge<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>) are also known: silicon nitride in particular would make a promising [ceramic](/source/ceramic) if not for the difficulty of working with and sintering it. In particular, the [group 13](/source/boron_group) nitrides, most of which are promising [semiconductor](/source/semiconductor)s, are isoelectronic with graphite, diamond, and [silicon carbide](/source/silicon_carbide) and have similar structures: their bonding changes from covalent to partially ionic to metallic as the group is descended. In particular, since the B–N unit is isoelectronic to C–C, and carbon is essentially intermediate in size between boron and nitrogen, much of [organic chemistry](/source/organic_chemistry) finds an echo in boron–nitrogen chemistry, such as in [borazine](/source/borazine) ("inorganic [benzene](/source/benzene)"). Nevertheless, the analogy is not exact due to the ease of [nucleophilic](/source/nucleophile) attack at boron due to its deficiency in electrons, which is not possible in a wholly carbon-containing ring.<ref name="Greenwood417" />

The largest category of nitrides are the interstitial nitrides of formulae MN, M<sub>2</sub>N, and M<sub>4</sub>N (although variable composition is perfectly possible), where the small nitrogen atoms are positioned in the gaps in a metallic cubic or [hexagonal close-packed](/source/hexagonal_close-packed) lattice. They are opaque, very hard, and chemically inert, melting only at very high temperatures (generally over 2500&nbsp;°C). They have a metallic lustre and conduct electricity as do metals. They hydrolyse only very slowly to give ammonia or nitrogen.<ref name="Greenwood417" />

The nitride anion (N<sup>3−</sup>) is the strongest ''π'' donor known amongst ligands (the second-strongest is O<sup>2−</sup>). Nitrido complexes are generally made by thermal decomposition of azides or by deprotonating ammonia, and they usually involve a terminal {≡N}<sup>3−</sup> group. The linear azide anion ({{chem|N|3|-}}), being isoelectronic with [nitrous oxide](/source/nitrous_oxide), [carbon dioxide](/source/carbon_dioxide), and [cyanate](/source/cyanate), forms many coordination complexes. Further catenation is rare, although {{chem|N|4|4-}} (isoelectronic with [carbonate](/source/carbonate) and [nitrate](/source/nitrate)) is known.<ref name="Greenwood417" />

==Hydrides==
thumb|class=skin-invert-image|right|upright=2.3|Standard reduction potentials for nitrogen-containing species. Top diagram shows potentials at pH&nbsp;0; bottom diagram shows potentials at pH&nbsp;14.<ref name="Greenwood434">Greenwood and Earnshaw, pp. 434–38</ref>
Industrially, [ammonia](/source/ammonia) (NH<sub>3</sub>) is the most important compound of nitrogen and is prepared in larger amounts than any other compound, because it contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilisers. It is a colourless alkaline gas with a characteristic pungent smell. The presence of [hydrogen bonding](/source/hydrogen_bonding) has very significant effects on ammonia, conferring on it its high melting (−78&nbsp;°C) and boiling (−33&nbsp;°C) points. As a liquid, it is a very good solvent with a high heat of vaporisation (enabling it to be used in vacuum flasks), that also has a low viscosity and electrical conductivity and high [dielectric constant](/source/dielectric_constant), and is less dense than water. However, the hydrogen bonding in NH<sub>3</sub> is weaker than that in H<sub>2</sub>O due to the lower electronegativity of nitrogen compared to oxygen and the presence of only one lone pair in NH<sub>3</sub> rather than two in H<sub>2</sub>O. It is a weak base in aqueous solution ([p''K''<sub>''b''</sub>](/source/acid_dissociation_constant) 4.74); its conjugate acid is [ammonium](/source/ammonium), {{chem|NH|4|+}}. It can also act as an extremely weak acid, losing a proton to produce the amide anion, {{chem|NH|2|-}}. It thus undergoes self-dissociation, similar to water, to produce ammonium and amide. Ammonia burns in air or oxygen, though not readily, to produce nitrogen gas; it burns in fluorine with a greenish-yellow flame to give [nitrogen trifluoride](/source/nitrogen_trifluoride). Reactions with the other nonmetals are very complex and tend to lead to a mixture of products. Ammonia reacts on heating with metals to give nitrides.<ref name="Greenwood420">Greenwood and Earnshaw, pp. 420–26</ref>

Many other binary nitrogen hydrides are known, but the most important are [hydrazine](/source/hydrazine) (N<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>) and [hydrogen azide](/source/hydrogen_azide) (HN<sub>3</sub>). Although it is not a nitrogen hydride, [hydroxylamine](/source/hydroxylamine) (NH<sub>2</sub>OH) is similar in properties and structure to ammonia and hydrazine as well. Hydrazine is a fuming, colourless liquid that smells similarly to ammonia. Its physical properties are very similar to those of water (melting point 2.0&nbsp;°C, boiling point 113.5&nbsp;°C, density 1.00&nbsp;g/cm<sup>3</sup>). Despite it being an endothermic compound, it is kinetically stable. It burns quickly and completely in air very exothermically to give nitrogen and water vapour. It is a very useful and versatile reducing agent and is a weaker base than ammonia.<ref name="Greenwood426" /> It is also commonly used as a rocket fuel.<ref name="Vieira">{{cite journal | last = Vieira | first = R. |author2=C. Pham-Huu |author3=N. Keller |author4=M. J. Ledoux | year = 2002 | title = New carbon nanofiber/graphite felt composite for use as a catalyst support for hydrazine catalytic decomposition | journal = [Chemical Communications](/source/Chemical_Communications) | issue = 9 | pages = 954–55 | doi = 10.1039/b202032g| pmid = 12123065 }}</ref>

Hydrazine is generally made by reaction of ammonia with alkaline [sodium hypochlorite](/source/sodium_hypochlorite) in the presence of gelatin or glue:<ref name="Greenwood426">Greenwood and Earnshaw, pp. 426–33</ref>
:NH<sub>3</sub> + OCl<sup>−</sup> → NH<sub>2</sub>Cl + OH<sup>−</sup>
:NH<sub>2</sub>Cl + NH<sub>3</sub> → {{chem|N|2|H|5|+}} + Cl<sup>−</sup> (slow)
:{{chem|N|2|H|5|+}} + OH<sup>−</sup> → N<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub> + H<sub>2</sub>O (fast)
(The attacks by hydroxide and ammonia may be reversed, thus passing through the intermediate NHCl<sup>−</sup> instead.) The reason for adding gelatin is that it removes metal ions such as Cu<sup>2+</sup> that catalyses the destruction of hydrazine by reaction with [monochloramine](/source/monochloramine) (NH<sub>2</sub>Cl) to produce [ammonium chloride](/source/ammonium_chloride) and nitrogen.<ref name="Greenwood426" />

[Hydrogen azide](/source/Hydrogen_azide) (HN<sub>3</sub>) was first produced in 1890 by the oxidation of aqueous hydrazine by nitrous acid. It is very explosive and even dilute solutions can be dangerous. It has a disagreeable and irritating smell and is a potentially lethal (but not cumulative) poison. It may be considered the conjugate acid of the azide anion, and is similarly analogous to the [hydrohalic acid](/source/hydrohalic_acid)s.<ref name="Greenwood426" />

==Halides and oxohalides==
[[File:Nitrogen trichloride.JPG|thumb|right|[Nitrogen trichloride](/source/Nitrogen_trichloride)]]
All four simple nitrogen trihalides are known. A few mixed halides and hydrohalides are known, but are mostly unstable; examples include NClF<sub>2</sub>, NCl<sub>2</sub>F, NBrF<sub>2</sub>, NF<sub>2</sub>H, [NFH<sub>2</sub>](/source/fluoroamine), [NCl<sub>2</sub>H](/source/Dichloramine), and [NClH<sub>2</sub>](/source/Monochloramine).<ref name="Greenwood438">Greenwood and Earnshaw, pp. 438–42</ref>

Five nitrogen fluorides are known. [Nitrogen trifluoride](/source/Nitrogen_trifluoride) (NF<sub>3</sub>, first prepared in 1928) is a colourless and odourless gas that is thermodynamically stable, and most readily produced by the [electrolysis](/source/electrolysis) of molten [ammonium fluoride](/source/ammonium_fluoride) dissolved in anhydrous [hydrogen fluoride](/source/hydrogen_fluoride). Like [carbon tetrafluoride](/source/carbon_tetrafluoride), it is not at all reactive and is stable in water or dilute aqueous acids or alkalis. Only when heated does it act as a fluorinating agent, and it reacts with [copper](/source/copper), arsenic, antimony, and bismuth on contact at high temperatures to give [tetrafluorohydrazine](/source/tetrafluorohydrazine) (N<sub>2</sub>F<sub>4</sub>). The cations {{chem|NF|4|+}} and {{chem|N|2|F|3|+}} are also known (the latter from reacting tetrafluorohydrazine with strong fluoride-acceptors such as [arsenic pentafluoride](/source/arsenic_pentafluoride)), as is ONF<sub>3</sub>, which has aroused interest due to the short N–O distance implying partial double bonding and the highly polar and long N–F bond. Tetrafluorohydrazine, unlike hydrazine itself, can dissociate at room temperature and above to give the radical NF<sub>2</sub>•. [Fluorine azide](/source/Fluorine_azide) (FN<sub>3</sub>) is very explosive and thermally unstable. [Dinitrogen difluoride](/source/Dinitrogen_difluoride) (N<sub>2</sub>F<sub>2</sub>) exists as thermally interconvertible ''cis'' and ''trans'' isomers, and was first found as a product of the thermal decomposition of FN<sub>3</sub>.<ref name="Greenwood438" />

[Nitrogen trichloride](/source/Nitrogen_trichloride) (NCl<sub>3</sub>) is a dense, volatile, and explosive liquid whose physical properties are similar to those of [carbon tetrachloride](/source/carbon_tetrachloride), although one difference is that NCl<sub>3</sub> is easily hydrolysed by water while CCl<sub>4</sub> is not. It was first synthesised in 1811 by [Pierre Louis Dulong](/source/Pierre_Louis_Dulong), who lost three fingers and an eye to its explosive tendencies. As a dilute gas it is less dangerous and is thus used industrially to bleach and sterilise flour. [Nitrogen tribromide](/source/Nitrogen_tribromide) (NBr<sub>3</sub>), first prepared in 1975, is a deep red, temperature-sensitive, volatile solid that is explosive even at −100&nbsp;°C. [Nitrogen triiodide](/source/Nitrogen_triiodide) (NI<sub>3</sub>) is still more unstable and was only prepared in 1990. Its adduct with ammonia, which was known earlier, is very shock-sensitive: it can be set off by the touch of a feather, shifting air currents, or even [alpha particle](/source/alpha_particle)s.<ref name="Greenwood438" /><ref>{{ cite journal | author = Bowden, F. P. | title = Initiation of Explosion by Neutrons, α-Particles, and Fission Products | journal = Proceedings of the Royal Society of London A | year = 1958 | volume = 246 | issue = 1245 | pages = 216–19 | doi = 10.1098/rspa.1958.0123 | bibcode = 1958RSPSA.246..216B | s2cid = 137728239 }}</ref> For this reason, small amounts of nitrogen triiodide are sometimes synthesised as a demonstration to high school chemistry students or as an act of "chemical magic".<ref>{{cite book | author1 = Ford, L. A. | author2 = Grundmeier, E. W. | title = Chemical Magic | publisher = Dover | year = 1993 | page = [https://archive.org/details/chemicalmagic00ford_0/page/76 76] | isbn = 978-0-486-67628-9 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/chemicalmagic00ford_0/page/76 }}</ref> [Chlorine azide](/source/Chlorine_azide) (ClN<sub>3</sub>) and [bromine azide](/source/bromine_azide) (BrN<sub>3</sub>) are extremely sensitive and explosive.<ref>{{ cite journal |author1=Frierson, W. J. |author2=Kronrad, J. |author3=Browne, A. W. | title = Chlorine Azide, ClN<sub>3</sub>. I | journal = [Journal of the American Chemical Society](/source/Journal_of_the_American_Chemical_Society) | year = 1943 | volume = 65 | issue = 9 | pages = 1696–1698 | doi = 10.1021/ja01249a012 |bibcode=1943JAChS..65.1696F }}</ref><ref name="solid">{{cite journal|last=Lyhs|first=Benjamin|author2=Bläser, Dieter|author3=Wölper, Christoph|author4=Schulz, Stephan|author5=Jansen, Georg|title=Solid-State Structure of Bromine Azide|journal=Angewandte Chemie International Edition|date=20 February 2012|volume=51|issue=8|pages=1970–1974|doi=10.1002/anie.201108092|pmid=22250068|bibcode=2012ACIE...51.1970L |url=https://duepublico2.uni-due.de/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/duepublico_derivate_00073133/Accepted_Manuscript_Angew_Chem_Int_Ed_2012_51_1970.pdf|access-date=25 August 2021|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825213503/https://duepublico2.uni-due.de/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/duepublico_derivate_00073133/Accepted_Manuscript_Angew_Chem_Int_Ed_2012_51_1970.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Two series of nitrogen oxohalides are known: the nitrosyl halides (XNO) and the nitryl halides (XNO<sub>2</sub>). The first are very reactive gases that can be made by directly halogenating nitrous oxide. [Nitrosyl fluoride](/source/Nitrosyl_fluoride) (NOF) is colourless and a vigorous fluorinating agent. Nitrosyl fluoride can continue reacts with fluorine to form [nitrogen oxide trifluoride](/source/nitrogen_oxide_trifluoride),<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fox |first1=W.B. |last2=MacKenzie |first2=J.S. |last3=Vitek |first3=R. |title=The chemistry of trifluoramine oxide. V. Synthesis of F3 no by photochemical fluorination of nitrosyl fluoride |journal=Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry Letters |date=February 1970 |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=177–179 |doi=10.1016/0020-1650(70)80336-1}}</ref> which is also a strong fluorinating agent. [Nitrosyl chloride](/source/Nitrosyl_chloride) (NOCl) behaves in much the same way and has often been used as an ionising solvent. [Nitrosyl bromide](/source/Nitrosyl_bromide) (NOBr) is red. The reactions of the nitryl halides are mostly similar: [nitryl fluoride](/source/nitryl_fluoride) (FNO<sub>2</sub>) and [nitryl chloride](/source/nitryl_chloride) (ClNO<sub>2</sub>) are likewise reactive gases and vigorous halogenating agents.<ref name="Greenwood438" />

==Oxides==
{{main|Nitrogen oxide}}
thumb|upright=1.36|right|Nitrogen dioxide at −196&nbsp;°C, 0&nbsp;°C, 23&nbsp;°C, 35&nbsp;°C, and 50&nbsp;°C. {{chem|NO|2}} converts to colourless dinitrogen tetroxide ({{chem|N|2|O|4}}) at low temperatures, and reverts to {{chem|NO|2}} at higher temperatures.
Nitrogen forms nine molecular oxides, some of which were the first gases to be identified: N<sub>2</sub>O ([nitrous oxide](/source/nitrous_oxide)), NO ([nitric oxide](/source/nitric_oxide)), N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> ([dinitrogen trioxide](/source/dinitrogen_trioxide)), NO<sub>2</sub> ([nitrogen dioxide](/source/nitrogen_dioxide)), N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> ([dinitrogen tetroxide](/source/dinitrogen_tetroxide)), N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> ([dinitrogen pentoxide](/source/dinitrogen_pentoxide)), N<sub>4</sub>O ([nitrosyl azide](/source/nitrosyl_azide)),<ref name="Greenwood443">Greenwood and Earnshaw, pp. 443–58</ref> and N(NO<sub>2</sub>)<sub>3</sub> ([trinitramide](/source/trinitramide)).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rahm |first1=Martin |last2=Dvinskikh |first2=Sergey V. |last3=Furó |first3=István |last4=Brinck |first4=Tore |date=23 December 2010 |title=Experimental Detection of Trinitramide, N(NO<sub>2</sub>)<sub>3</sub> |journal=Angewandte Chemie International Edition |volume=50 |issue=5 |pages=1145–48 |doi=10.1002/anie.201007047|pmid=21268214 |s2cid=32952729 }}</ref> All are thermally unstable towards decomposition to their elements. One other possible oxide that has not yet been synthesised is [oxatetrazole](/source/oxatetrazole) (N<sub>4</sub>O), an aromatic ring.<ref name="Greenwood443" />

Nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O), better known as laughing gas, is made by thermal decomposition of molten [ammonium nitrate](/source/ammonium_nitrate) at 250&nbsp;°C. This is a redox reaction and thus nitric oxide and nitrogen are also produced as byproducts. It is mostly used as a propellant and aerating agent for [sprayed canned whipped cream](/source/cream), and was formerly commonly used as an anaesthetic. Despite appearances, it cannot be considered to be the [anhydride](/source/inorganic_anhydride) of [hyponitrous acid](/source/hyponitrous_acid) (H<sub>2</sub>N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) because that acid is not produced by the dissolution of nitrous oxide in water. It is rather unreactive (not reacting with the halogens, the alkali metals, or [ozone](/source/ozone) at room temperature, although reactivity increases upon heating) and has the unsymmetrical structure N–N–O (N≡N<sup>+</sup>O<sup>−</sup>↔<sup>−</sup>N=N<sup>+</sup>=O): above 600&nbsp;°C it dissociates by breaking the weaker N–O bond.<ref name="Greenwood443" />
Nitric oxide (NO) is the simplest stable molecule with an odd number of electrons. In mammals, including humans, it is an important cellular [signaling molecule](/source/signaling_molecule) involved in many physiological and pathological processes.<ref>{{cite journal|pmid=10390607|year=1999|last1=Hou|first1=Y. C.|last2=Janczuk|first2=A.|last3=Wang|first3=P. G.|title=Current trends in the development of nitric oxide donors|volume=5|issue=6|pages=417–41|journal=Current Pharmaceutical Design|doi=10.2174/138161280506230110111042 }}</ref> It is formed by catalytic oxidation of ammonia. It is a colourless paramagnetic gas that, being thermodynamically unstable, decomposes to nitrogen and oxygen gas at 1100–1200&nbsp;°C. Its bonding is similar to that in nitrogen, but one extra electron is added to a ''π''* antibonding orbital and thus the bond order has been reduced to approximately 2.5; hence dimerisation to O=N–N=O is unfavourable except below the boiling point (where the ''cis'' isomer is more stable) because it does not actually increase the total bond order and because the unpaired electron is delocalised across the NO molecule, granting it stability. There is also evidence for the asymmetric red dimer O=N–O=N when nitric oxide is condensed with polar molecules. It reacts with oxygen to give brown nitrogen dioxide and with halogens to give nitrosyl halides. It also reacts with transition metal compounds to give nitrosyl complexes, most of which are deeply coloured.<ref name="Greenwood443" />

Blue dinitrogen trioxide (N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) is only available as a solid because it rapidly dissociates above its melting point to give nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>), and dinitrogen tetroxide (N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>). The latter two compounds are somewhat difficult to study individually because of the equilibrium between them, although sometimes dinitrogen tetroxide can react by heterolytic fission to [nitrosonium](/source/nitrosonium) and [nitrate](/source/nitrate) in a medium with high dielectric constant. Nitrogen dioxide is an acrid, corrosive brown gas. Both compounds may be easily prepared by decomposing a dry metal nitrate. Both react with water to form [nitric acid](/source/nitric_acid). Dinitrogen tetroxide is very useful for the preparation of anhydrous metal nitrates and nitrato complexes, and it became the storable oxidiser of choice for many rockets in both the United States and [USSR](/source/USSR) by the late 1950s. This is because it is a [hypergolic propellant](/source/hypergolic_propellant) in combination with a [hydrazine](/source/hydrazine)-based [rocket fuel](/source/Rocket_propellant) and can be easily stored since it is liquid at room temperature.<ref name="Greenwood443" />

The thermally unstable and very reactive dinitrogen pentoxide (N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>) is the anhydride of [nitric acid](/source/nitric_acid), and can be made from it by dehydration with [phosphorus pentoxide](/source/phosphorus_pentoxide). It is of interest for the preparation of explosives.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Talawar, M. B.|title=Establishment of Process Technology for the Manufacture of Dinitrogen Pentoxide and its Utility for the Synthesis of Most Powerful Explosive of Today – CL-20|journal=Journal of Hazardous Materials|year= 2005| volume =124|issue=1–3| pages =153–64|doi=10.1016/j.jhazmat.2005.04.021|pmid=15979786|display-authors=etal |bibcode=2005JHzM..124..153T }}</ref> It is a [deliquescent](/source/deliquescent), colourless crystalline solid that is sensitive to light. In the solid state it is ionic with structure [NO<sub>2</sub>]<sup>+</sup>[NO<sub>3</sub>]<sup>−</sup>; as a gas and in solution it is molecular O<sub>2</sub>N–O–NO<sub>2</sub>. Hydration to nitric acid comes readily, as does analogous reaction with [hydrogen peroxide](/source/hydrogen_peroxide) giving [peroxonitric acid](/source/peroxonitric_acid) (HOONO<sub>2</sub>). It is a violent oxidising agent. Gaseous dinitrogen pentoxide decomposes as follows:<ref name="Greenwood443" />
:N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> {{eqm}} NO<sub>2</sub> + NO<sub>3</sub> → NO<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> + NO
:N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> + NO {{eqm}} 3 NO<sub>2</sub>

==Oxoacids, oxoanions, and oxoacid salts==
Many nitrogen [oxoacid](/source/oxoacid)s are known, though most of them are unstable as pure compounds and are known only as aqueous solution or as salts. [Hyponitrous acid](/source/Hyponitrous_acid) (H<sub>2</sub>N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) is a weak diprotic acid with the structure HON=NOH (p''K''<sub>a1</sub> 6.9, p''K''<sub>a2</sub> 11.6). Acidic solutions are quite stable but above pH 4 base-catalysed decomposition occurs via [HONNO]<sup>−</sup> to nitrous oxide and the hydroxide anion. [Hyponitrite](/source/Hyponitrite)s (involving the {{chem|N|2|O|2|2-}} anion) are stable to reducing agents and more commonly act as reducing agents themselves. They are an intermediate step in the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite, which occurs in the [nitrogen cycle](/source/nitrogen_cycle). Hyponitrite can act as a bridging or chelating bidentate ligand.<ref name="Greenwood459">Greenwood and Earnshaw, pp. 459–72</ref>

[Nitrous acid](/source/Nitrous_acid) (HNO<sub>2</sub>) is not known as a pure compound, but is a common component in gaseous equilibria and is an important aqueous reagent: its aqueous solutions may be made from acidifying cool aqueous [nitrite](/source/nitrite) ({{chem|NO|2|-}}, bent) solutions, although already at room temperature disproportionation to [nitrate](/source/nitrate) and nitric oxide is significant. It is a weak acid with p''K''<sub>''a''</sub> 3.35 at 18&nbsp;°C. They may be [titrimetrically](/source/titration) analysed by their oxidation to nitrate by [permanganate](/source/permanganate). They are readily reduced to nitrous oxide and nitric oxide by [sulfur dioxide](/source/sulfur_dioxide), to hyponitrous acid with [tin](/source/tin)(II), and to ammonia with [hydrogen sulfide](/source/hydrogen_sulfide). Salts of [hydrazinium](/source/hydrazinium) {{chem|N|2|H|5|+}} react with nitrous acid to produce azides which further react to give nitrous oxide and nitrogen. [Sodium nitrite](/source/Sodium_nitrite) is mildly toxic in concentrations above 100&nbsp;mg/kg, but small amounts are often used to cure meat and as a preservative to avoid bacterial spoilage. It is also used to synthesise hydroxylamine and to diazotise primary aromatic amines as follows:<ref name="Greenwood459" />
:ArNH<sub>2</sub> + HNO<sub>2</sub> → [ArNN]Cl + 2 H<sub>2</sub>O

Nitrite is also a common ligand that can coordinate in five ways. The most common are nitro (bonded from the nitrogen) and nitrito (bonded from an oxygen). Nitro-nitrito isomerism is common, where the nitrito form is usually less stable.<ref name="Greenwood459" />

thumb|right|Fuming nitric acid contaminated with yellow nitrogen dioxide
[Nitric acid](/source/Nitric_acid) (HNO<sub>3</sub>) is by far the most important and the most stable of the nitrogen oxoacids. It is one of the three most used acids (the other two being [sulfuric acid](/source/sulfuric_acid) and [hydrochloric acid](/source/hydrochloric_acid)) and was first discovered by the alchemists in the 13th century. It is made by catalytic oxidation of ammonia to nitric oxide, which is oxidised to nitrogen dioxide, and then dissolved in water to give concentrated nitric acid. In the [United States of America](/source/United_States), over seven million tonnes of nitric acid are produced every year, most of which is used for nitrate production for fertilisers and explosives, among other uses. Anhydrous nitric acid may be made by distilling concentrated nitric acid with phosphorus pentoxide at low pressure in glass apparatus in the dark. It can only be made in the solid state, because upon melting it spontaneously decomposes to nitrogen dioxide, and liquid nitric acid undergoes [self-ionisation](/source/Molecular_autoionization) to a larger extent than any other covalent liquid as follows:<ref name="Greenwood459" />
:2 HNO<sub>3</sub> {{eqm}} {{chem|H|2|NO|3|+}} + {{chem|NO|3|-}} {{eqm}} H<sub>2</sub>O + [NO<sub>2</sub>]<sup>+</sup> + [NO<sub>3</sub>]<sup>−</sup>
Two hydrates, HNO<sub>3</sub>·H<sub>2</sub>O and HNO<sub>3</sub>·3H<sub>2</sub>O, are known that can be crystallised. It is a strong acid and concentrated solutions are strong oxidising agents, though [gold](/source/gold), [platinum](/source/platinum), [rhodium](/source/rhodium), and [iridium](/source/iridium) are immune to attack. A 3:1 mixture of concentrated hydrochloric acid and nitric acid, called ''[aqua regia](/source/aqua_regia)'', is still stronger and successfully dissolves gold and platinum, because free chlorine and nitrosyl chloride are formed and chloride anions can form strong complexes. In concentrated sulfuric acid, nitric acid is protonated to form [nitronium](/source/nitronium), which can act as an electrophile for aromatic nitration:<ref name="Greenwood459" />
:HNO<sub>3</sub> + 2 H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> {{eqm}} {{chem|NO|2|+}} + H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup> + 2 {{chem|HSO|4|-}}
The thermal stabilities of [nitrate](/source/nitrate)s (involving the trigonal planar {{chem|NO|3|-}} anion) depends on the basicity of the metal, and so do the products of decomposition (thermolysis), which can vary between the nitrite (for example, sodium), the oxide (potassium and [lead](/source/lead)), or even the metal itself ([silver](/source/silver)) depending on their relative stabilities. Nitrate is also a common ligand with many modes of coordination.<ref name="Greenwood459" />

Finally, although orthonitric acid (H<sub>3</sub>NO<sub>4</sub>), which would be analogous to [orthophosphoric acid](/source/orthophosphoric_acid), does not exist, the tetrahedral [orthonitrate](/source/orthonitrate) anion {{chem|NO|4|3-}} is known in its sodium and potassium salts:<ref name="Greenwood459" />
:<chem>NaNO3{} + Na2O ->[\ce{Ag~crucible}][\ce{300^\circ C~for~7 days}] Na3NO4</chem>
These white crystalline salts are very sensitive to water vapour and carbon dioxide in the air:<ref name="Greenwood459" />
:Na<sub>3</sub>NO<sub>4</sub> + H<sub>2</sub>O + CO<sub>2</sub> → NaNO<sub>3</sub> + NaOH + NaHCO<sub>3</sub>
Despite its limited chemistry, the orthonitrate anion is interesting from a structural point of view due to its regular tetrahedral shape and the short N–O bond lengths, implying significant polar character to the bonding.<ref name="Greenwood459" />

==Organic nitrogen compounds==
Nitrogen is one of the most important elements in [organic chemistry](/source/organic_chemistry). Many organic [functional group](/source/functional_group)s involve a [carbon–nitrogen bond](/source/carbon%E2%80%93nitrogen_bond), such as [amide](/source/amide)s (RCONR<sub>2</sub>), [amine](/source/amine)s (R<sub>3</sub>N), [imine](/source/imine)s (RC(=NR)R), [imide](/source/imide)s ((RCO)<sub>2</sub>NR), [azide](/source/azide)s (RN<sub>3</sub>), [azo compound](/source/azo_compound)s (RN<sub>2</sub>R), [cyanate](/source/cyanate)s and [isocyanate](/source/isocyanate)s (ROCN or RCNO), [nitrate](/source/nitrate)s (RONO<sub>2</sub>), [nitrile](/source/nitrile)s and [isonitrile](/source/isonitrile)s (RCN or RNC), [nitrite](/source/nitrite)s (RONO), [nitro compound](/source/nitro_compound)s (RNO<sub>2</sub>), [nitroso compound](/source/nitroso_compound)s (RNO), [oxime](/source/oxime)s (RCR=NOH), and [pyridine](/source/pyridine) derivatives. C–N bonds are strongly polarised towards nitrogen. In these compounds, nitrogen is usually trivalent (though it can be tetravalent in [quaternary ammonium salt](/source/quaternary_ammonium_salt)s, R<sub>4</sub>N<sup>+</sup>), with a lone pair that can confer basicity on the compound by being coordinated to a proton. This may be offset by other factors: for example, amides are not basic because the lone pair is delocalised into a double bond (though they may act as acids at very low pH, being protonated at the oxygen), and [pyrrole](/source/pyrrole) is not acidic because the lone pair is delocalised as part of an [aromatic](/source/aromaticity) ring.<ref name="Jerry">{{JerryMarch}}</ref> The amount of nitrogen in a [chemical substance](/source/chemical_substance) can be determined by the [Kjeldahl method](/source/Kjeldahl_method).<ref>{{cite book|year=2008|doi=10.1007/978-1-4020-6754-9_9066|isbn=978-1-4020-6753-2|title=Encyclopedia of Genetics, Genomics, Proteomics and Informatics|page=1063|chapter=Kjeldahl Method|last1=Rédei|first1=George P}}</ref> In particular, nitrogen is an essential component of [nucleic acids](/source/nucleic_acids), [amino acid](/source/amino_acid)s and thus [protein](/source/protein)s, and the energy-carrying molecule [adenosine triphosphate](/source/adenosine_triphosphate) and is thus vital to all life on Earth.<ref name="Jerry" />

==See also==
* [Boron compounds](/source/Boron_compounds)
* [Nitrates](/source/Nitrates)
* [Carbon compounds](/source/Carbon_compounds)

==References==
{{reflist}}
Category:Nitrogen compounds
Category:Chemical compounds by element

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nitrogen compounds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_compounds) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_compounds?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.