In 1772, Scottish physician Daniel Rutherford found out that, in addition to oxygen, air was also comprised of a separate element known as nitrogen. Since this discovery, there have been many uses for nitrogen, from food packaging and diving equipment to leisure activities, such as paintballing and motor racing. But what is it about the characteristics of nitrogen gas that has made it ideal for such varied applications? Take a look at our five uses of nitrogen.
What Is Nitrogen?
Listed as the atomic number seven on the periodic table, nitrogen is a transparent, odourless gas at room temperature. It is the most abundant element within our atmosphere, making up around 78% of the air we breathe. Nitrogen gas also has many uses in various industries, being used in compounds such as fertilisers, explosives, ammonia and nitric acid, as well as the building blocks of all organisms, particularly in the form of amino acids within DNA.
Nitrogen has a variety of applications in all phases of matter. The gas is used in a multitude of things, from preserving food to use in motorsports. By using nitrogen’s chemical and physical properties, manufacturers can use it to develop their products.
Nitrogen Use in Everyday Life: Food and Drink
Food and drink are just some of the many uses of nitrogen in everyday life. In packaging industries, nitrogen is used to create a ‘modified atmosphere’ within the packaging. This essentially replaces the original atmosphere inside the packaging in order to prevent oxidation of the product. For example, it is regularly used in the bottling of wine in order to displace the oxygen within the bottle to protect the wine from oxidation. It can also be mixed with carbon dioxide to ensure there is no bacterial growth and prevent the onset of rancidification.
Motor Sports
Nitrogen is routinely used in motorsports for the inflation of tyres. Although normal air is still used to inflate the tyres of most cars, it was found that the moisture within the air can cause fluctuations in the pressure, which can lead to complications when driving at speed around race tracks.
Since nitrogen doesn’t contain any moisture, the tyre pressure stays consistent, regardless of the temperature, which is more ideal for racers.
Paintballing
Another benefit of nitrogen is that it can withstand a lot of pressure, meaning that it can be stored in sturdy gas tanks. Compression of nitrogen doesn’t affect its physical state, unlike some gases, making it perfect for pressurised storage in gas tanks. As a result, nitrogen became the main power source for paintball guns.
Some carbon dioxide tanks contain a small amount of liquid carbon dioxide, which can cause some issues to the paintball gun itself. However, nitrogen tanks do not have this issue, so all of the nitrogen gas within the tank is pressurised and gaseous.
Pharmaceuticals
Nitrogen is used in the medical industry for pharmaceuticals. In its nitrous oxide state, it can be used as an anaesthetic to relieve pain and relax patients. Nitrogen can also be used to preserve various biological specimens.
Electronics
Did you know that nitrogen is used in the manufacturing of many electronics? Our fifth listed use of nitrogen is its use in the internal components of many computers to help prevent them from overheating after continuous use. It is also widely used in the fire suppression systems for IT equipment, as conventional fire extinguishers are not effective in these situations.
Here at Adams Gas, we offer a wide variety of products to make sure that you find the best gas canister for your specific needs, whether it be for your home or business. We ensure that all of our products have regular safety checks because your safety is our top priority. If you would like to know more about our products, then please feel free to get in touch.