Properties
It is a colorless gas, although it is sometimes polluted with nitrogen dioxide. It is very corrosive and a strong oxidizing agent. It can ignite on contact with hydrazine. It can be made by bonding two nitrogen dioxide molecules together at a low temperature or a high pressure.
Preparation
It is made by bonding nitrogen dioxide molecules together in pairs.
Uses
It is used as a rocket propellant, along with hydrazine. This mixture is good since it does not have to be ignited. It is used similar to nitrogen dioxide to make nitric acid. It can react with metals to make nitrates.
Safety
Dinitrogen is highly toxic and corrosive. Some astronauts breathed it and had to go to a hospital.
Related pages
Sources
- ↑ International Chemical Safety Card
- 1 2 P.W. Atkins and J. de Paula, Physical Chemistry (8th ed., W.H. Freeman, 2006) p.999