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The mystery of nitrogen: How did the ancients discover this 'suffocating gas'?
In the world of chemistry, there is a mysterious group called pnictogens. The name comes from the Ancient Greek πνῑ́γω, meaning "to suffocate," which describes the properties of nitrogen. Although nitrogen makes up 78% of the Earth's atmosphere, it is a suffocating gas in the presence of oxygen. These nitrogen group elements include nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi) and artificial Moscovit (Mc). The discovery of these elements dates back to ancient times, and their properties are closely related to life.
Ancient Discoveries
Nitrogen compounds - ammonium salts (salt ammonia) were already known in ancient Egypt. However, it wasn't until the 1760s that scientists Henry Cavendish and Joseph Priestley independently isolated nitrogen from the air, without realizing they had discovered a new element. It was not until 1772 that Daniel Rutherford determined that the gas was nitrogen.
Nitrogen's asphyxiating effect caused the gas to be overlooked in many documents of the time, and even mistakenly identified as part of ordinary air.
Chemical and physical properties of nitrogen
Nitrogen has a very unique chemical property; as the first element in the nitrogen group, it has only three unpaired electrons and tends to form multiple bonds with other elements. Due to its electron configuration, nitrogen is very stable in its nitrogen dioxide (N2) form and is essential for many key biochemical processes.
In terms of physical properties, nitrogen is a colorless, odorless gas at room temperature, and its density is very low at normal pressure, only 0.001251 g/cm³. This makes nitrogen an ideal inert gas in many industrial operations.
Phosphorus’ mysterious pastPhosphorus, a member of the nitrogen family, was first discovered in 1669 by Alzheimer's chemist Henrik Brandt, who produced it by heating urine. At the time, Brandt mistakenly thought he had found the philosopher's stone because of its unique luster.
Arsenic, Antimony and Bismuth
Arsenic compounds have been known in antiquity for 5,000 years, with the ancient Greek Theophrastus identifying arsenic minerals such as cinnabar. Antimony has been used in dyes and flame materials since ancient times. Bismuth was discovered around 1400 and was initially thought to be a variant of lead, but this was eventually proven to be different by Claude-François Geoffroy in 1753.
The mysterious properties and history of each nitrogen group element increase their importance to scientific research, especially in the fields of biochemistry and environmental science.
Modern Applications and Challenges
In today's industry, nitrogen is widely used in the manufacture of fertilizers, such as ammonia, and the synthesis process accounts for about 1-2% of global energy consumption. Phosphorus plays an important role in chemical reactions, especially in the production of fertilizers. Arsenic was once used as a pigment, but its use was limited due to its toxicity. Antimony is most commonly used in alloy manufacturing, especially in ammunition development. The special properties of bismuth have attracted widespread attention in medicine and environmental protection materials.
ConclusionThe mystery of nitrogen not only allows us to review the history of scientific development, but also reminds us of the importance of chemical elements in life and the environment. As technology advances, can we uncover the mysteries of these elements more deeply?
