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Nitrogen

Discovered by Scottish Physician Daniel Rutherford in 1772 Rutherford gave the name Noxious of Fixed air because it does not support combustion

Other scientists that studied Nitrogen:

1. Carl Wilhelm Scheele2. Henry Cavendish3. Joseph Priestly

USES:

Nitrogen gas:

1. An alternative to argon in incandescent light bulbs.2. Production of Transistors, diodes and integrated circuits.3. Used in military aircraft fuel systems to reduce fire hazard.

Liquid Nitrogen:1. Refrigerant Liquid Nitrogen An example of a Cryogenic Liquid

Nitrogen Compounds:

1. Nitrogen and Natural Gas = Ammonia ( by means of the Haber process )2. Potassium Nitrate ( Gunpowder )3. Ammonium Nitrate ( Fertilizer )4. In great amount ( ANFO or Explosives )

Phosphorus:

1. White phosphorus- The most reactive- The least dense- The most toxic ( causes severe liver damage in digestion )- Also known as Yellow Phosphorus - Glows in the dark ( Faint tinge of green and blue )- Highly flammable and pyrophoric

2. Red Phosphorus- Formed by heating White phosphorus to 250 C ( 482 F )

3. Black Phosphorus- Least reactive allotrope- Stable below 550 C- Has a structure resembling graphite- Produced by using high amount of pressure or metal salts as catalyst

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Application:

1. As Fertilizer2. Used in steel production3. Matches ( in the 1830s)

MATCHES (with White Phosphorus)

- Sensitive, toxic and unsafe- Gradually banned between 1872 and 1925

International Berne Convention

- Banned white phosphorus matches ( 1906 )MATCHES (Phosphorus Sesquisulfide, P4S3)

- Such matches are hard to ignite on an arbitrary surface and require a special strip.The Strip contains red phosphorus which heats up upon striking, reacts with the

oxygen-releasing compound in the head and ignites the flammable material of the

head.

Antimony (Stibium)

- A Lustrous gray metalloid.Uses:

1. Used as weapons2. Flame retardants

- Clothings- Toys- Aircraft and Automotive seat covers.

3. Fiberglass composites-

Additive to polyester resins in engine covers.

Alloys:

1. With Lead- Increases its hardness and mechanical strength

2. Antifriction alloys- Bullets

Bismuth

- Most naturally diamagnetic- Lowest value of Thermal conductivity- From the German word Wismuth which means White Mass

Physical Characteristics:

1. Brittle2. White, Silver-pink Hue3. When burned, a blue flame and produces yellow fumes4. It has lower toxicity than lead, antimony and polonium

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Application:

1. A catalyst for making acrylic Fibers.2. Ingredient in lubricating greases.

Arsenic

- First documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250- An example of a metalloid- Poisonous to multicellular organisms- It only has a single, stable isotope, As75 ( monoisotopic )

Applications

1. The toxicity of arsenic to insects, bacteria and fungi led to its use as a wood preservative.2. Arsenic-74 is used as an alternative to Iodine-124 in Positron Emittion Tomography (PET) it is

much clearer and produces a lot of noise.

3. Lead Components in Car batteries are strengthened by the presence of a few Arsenic.