N2s

N2s is not a formal chemical term. In most scientific literature, the molecule is denoted N2, representing dinitrogen, two nitrogen atoms bonded together. The plural form N2s may appear to refer to multiple molecules of dinitrogen or to a sample of nitrogen gas, but it does not name a distinct substance or compound. The article therefore treats N2s as a colloquial shorthand for dinitrogen gas in bulk.

Dinitrogen (N2) is a diatomic molecule with a triple bond between two identical nitrogen atoms. The N≡N bond length is about 1.097 Å, and the bond energy is approximately 941 kJ/mol. It is colorless, odorless, and relatively inert at room temperature and pressure; its physical state is a gas with a boiling point of −195.8°C and a melting point of −210.0°C at standard pressure.

Natural abundance and production: N2 makes up about 78% of Earth's atmosphere by volume. Industrial production relies on separation of air, typically by fractional distillation of liquid air or by membrane/pressure-swing adsorption, yielding high-purity nitrogen for uses in metal processing, chemical synthesis, electronics, and food packaging.

Reactivity and uses: The stability of N2 is due to the strong triple bond, which makes direct fixation to form N-containing compounds require high energy. Some processes include nitrogen fixation by certain bacteria or engineered catalysts (Haber-Bosch) to produce ammonia. In many industries, N2 is used as an inert shielding gas to prevent unwanted reactions during welding, chemical processing, and storage.

Safety and isotopes: Dinitrogen is non-toxic; however, at high concentrations it can act as an asphyxiant by displacing oxygen. It has two stable isotopes, N-14 and N-15, with natural abundances approximately 99.63% and 0.37% respectively.