Chemistry › Section R · Metals, metalloids, and nonmetals › Topic R.5
Nitrogen and phosphorus
Every protein and every strand of DNA needs nitrogen and phosphorus, and modern farming depends on supplying both as fertiliser. The two group 15 elements behave very differently, and the reason lies in a single triple bond.
In this topic
- Nitrogen: plentiful but stubborn
- The Haber–Bosch process
- Ammonia and nitrogen's oxidation states
- The oxides of nitrogen
- Nitric acid: the Ostwald process
- Worked example: from air to nitric acid
- Phosphorus: from rock to element
- The allotropes of phosphorus
- Oxides, acids and halides of phosphorus
- Worked example: phosphoric acid for fertiliser
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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