Nitrogen (N)

Definition

Nitrogen is a chemical element with the symbol N and atomic number 7. It was first discovered and isolated by Scottish physician Daniel Rutherford in 1772.

Related terms

Nitrogen Cycle:

The series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are interconverted in the environment and in living organisms, including nitrogen fixation and decomposition.

Amino Acids:

Organic compounds composed of nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; they're the building blocks of proteins.

Nucleotides:

Organic molecules that serve as the monomers, or subunits, of nucleic acids like DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). They consist of a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar (ribose or deoxyribose), and at least one phosphate group.