Nitrogencontaining

Nitrogen-containing compounds are chemical substances in which at least one nitrogen atom is part of the molecular framework. The term covers a wide range of materials, from simple inorganic species such as ammonia (NH3), ammonium salts, nitrous oxide, and the nitrogen oxides, to large classes of organic compounds in which nitrogen is bonded to carbon, hydrogen, and other elements.

In organic chemistry, common nitrogen-containing functional groups include amines (R-NH2, R2NH, R3N), amides (R-CO-NR'R''), nitriles (R-CN), imines (R2C=NR'), nitro compounds (R-NO2), and heterocycles such as pyridine, imidazole, and indole. Nitrogen atoms in heterocycles are prominent in pharmaceuticals, dyes, and natural products.

Biology hinges on nitrogen-containing biomolecules: amino acids, nucleotides, proteins, alkaloids, and many neurotransmitters all require nitrogen. Industrially, nitrogen chemistry supports fertilizers (urea, ammonium nitrate), polymers, solvents, and precursors for pharmaceuticals and explosives.

Safety and environmental aspects: some nitrogen-containing compounds are toxic or reactive; nitrates can contribute to eutrophication; nitrosamines are carcinogenic; energetic nitrogen compounds require careful handling and storage.

The term nitrogen-containing thus denotes a broad family of substances whose defining feature is one or more nitrogen atoms in the structure, spanning inorganic salts, simple gases, and diverse organic frameworks essential to life and industry.