Element 7 · Non-Metal
Nitrogen
Nitrogen makes up 78% of the atmosphere — and is the foundation of synthetic fertilisers feeding the world.
Element Facts
SYMBOL
N
ATOMIC NO.
7
ATOMIC WEIGHT
14.007
CATEGORY
Non-Metal
PERIOD
Period 2
GROUP
Group 15
Historical Uses
Nitrogen was discovered in 1772 by Daniel Rutherford, with parallel discoveries by Carl Wilhelm Scheele and Henry Cavendish. Named by Jean-Antoine Chaptal from the Greek “nitrate-former”. The Haber-Bosch process (1909) for synthesising ammonia from atmospheric nitrogen is arguably the most impactful chemical invention in history, enabling fertiliser production that now sustains roughly half the global population.
Current Uses
Nitrogen’s largest use is in ammonia production for fertilisers and explosives. It is also used as an inert blanketing gas in electronics and food manufacturing, as liquid nitrogen in cryogenics and food processing, and in nitrogen-filled tyres for aircraft. It comprises 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Not Commercially Viable for Scrap
Why QuickStop Metals doesn’t buy Nitrogen:
Nitrogen is a gas — not a metal or solid material. There is no scrap market for gases. Nitrogen is produced industrially by fractional distillation of liquid air and is consumed rather than recycled.
Price Context
Liquid nitrogen trades at approximately £0.08–0.25 per litre for bulk industrial supply. It is sold as an industrial utility, not a scrap material.