Nitrogen is naturally occurring non-metallic element. In the periodic table, we denote it by the symbol N. The element is inert in its properties. Moreover, it constitutes 78% of our planet’s atmosphere. However, you must remember that gaseous nitrogen is natural.
Liquid nitrogen does not occur naturally. We use cryogenic air separation process to liquefy the non-metallic element. Nevertheless, chemically gaseous and liquid nitrogen are same being made up of N2 molecules.
But the essential difference between liquid nitrogen and nitrogen is that the former is man-made while the latter occurs in nature. We will discuss nitrogen gas and liquid nitrogen in detail later. First, we will understand their through a short snapshot given below:
Applications include preservation of semen, blood samples and other biological samples, freezing food, cattle branding, skin treatment, and cryotherapy.
Applications include use as blanketing agent for preserving food products from oxidation, transporting hazardous products, filling tire tubes, making beer kegs, etc.
So we have talked about difference between liquid nitrogen and nitrogen. Now we will examine what is liquid nitrogen in bit more detail. LIN is liquefied nitrogen at extremely low pressure. We call liquefied gas as cryogenic liquid or simply as cryogens.
Cryogenic liquids are liquid gases with boiling point below -90 degree Centigrade. Likewise, LIN is a cryogen with boiling point below −195.8°C. In short form, we denote it as LIN. Typically, it has many characteristics similar to nitrogen gas.
It is inert, colorless and odorless. And, you should exercise caution in handling LIN. Touching liquid nitrogen can be hazardous for naked skin. Industries use liquid nitrogen plants for producing liquid nitrogen via fractional distillation.
Nitrogen gas is a naturally occurring gas in Earth’s atmosphere. It is inert, colorless and inert. As a matter of fact, the industries value the gas for its inert properties. As might know it constitutes around 78% of our atmosphere.
Decidedly, nitrogen is the most consumed industrial. We find its usage in all walks of modern life. It is used in making ammonia, fertilizers, pharmaceutical items, food packaging, and chemical products.
