(Liberty Industrial Gases supplies a full range of industrial gases in a variety of cylinder sizes for all your gas needs. the capability of providing pure gases along with customized mixing of component gases to meet all your welding needs.)
Properties of Nitrogen
Nitrogen, or N2, is a diatomic gas which comprises 78 percent of the earth’s atmosphere. In addition to air, nitrogen is found in the protein matter of all life forms, in some natural gas-hydrocarbon deposits, and in many organic and inorganic compounds.
Colorless, odorless, tasteless, and nontoxic, nitrogen exists as a non-flammable gas at atmospheric temperatures and pressures. A specific gravity of .9669 makes nitrogen slightly lighter than air. When cooled to its boiling point of -320°F, nitrogen becomes a colorless liquid which can, in turn, be compressed into a colorless, crystalline solid. It is only slightly soluble in water and most other liquids, and is a poor conductor of heat and electricity.
Most uses of gaseous nitrogen depend on its inert characteristics. At high temperatures and pressures, however, it will combine with some reactive metals (such as lithium and magnesium) to form nitrides, as well as with some gaseous elements such as hydrogen and oxygen.
Nitrogen constitutes 78% of the atmosphere and is a constituent of all living tissues. Under normal conditions, nitrogen is a colorless, odorless and tasteless inert gas which has no toxic properties and is slightly lighter than air. As a liquid at -320 ºF it has a water-white appearance and must be handled with care due to its low temperature.
Liquid Nitrogen is classified as Type II by the Compressed Gas Association (CGA). CGA-10.1, Type II, Grade L or The National Formulary Specs (similar to USP) are considered commercial liquid nitrogen standards.
(Units in ppm (v/v) unless show otherwise)
| Liquid | Liquid | Gasseous | ||
| Limiting Characteristics | National Formulary Spec | CGA G-10.1 Type II, Grade L |
Typical | CGA G-10.1 Type I, Grade F |
| Nitrogen Minimum, % * | 99.0 | 99.998 | 99.999 | 99.9 |
| Water | N/A | 4 | 1.5 | 32.0 |
| Dew Point, °F | N/A | -90 | -100 | -60 |
| Carbon Monoxide | 10 | — | — | — |
| Oxygen | 1.0% | 10 | 5 | 1000 |
| Odor | None | — | — | — |
* N2 includes trace quantities of neon, helium and small quantities of argon.
Currently the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has no specification for liquid nitrogen in food applications. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers nitrogen a G.R.A.S. substance, Generally Regarded As Safe as a good additive.
Nitrogen is also available in high purity VLSI grade for customers requiring stringent purity standards.
Nitrogen Conversion Data
| Nitrogen | Weight | Gas | Liquid | |||
| Pounds | Kilograms | Cubic Feet | Cubic Meters | Gallons | Liters | |
| LB | KG | SCF | Nm3 | Gal | L | |
| 1 Pound | 1 | 0.4536 | 13.803 | 0.3627 | 0.1481 | 0.5606 |
| 1 Kilogram | 2.205 | 1 | 30.42 | 0.7996 | 0.3262 | 1.2349 |
| 1 Ton | 2000 | 907.2 | 27606 | 725.4 | 296.2 | 1121 |
| 1 SCF Gas | 0.07245 | 0.03286 | 1 | 0.02628 | 0.01074 | 0.04065 |
| 1 Nm3 Gas | 2.757 | 1.2506 | 38.04 | 1 | 0.408 | 1.5443 |
| 1 Gal Liquid | 6.745 | 3.06 | 93.11 | 2.447 | 1 | 3.785 |
| 1 L Liquid | 1.782 | 0.8083 | 24.6 | 0.6464 | 0.2642 | 1 |
SCF (standard cubic foot) and SM3 (standard cubic meter) gas measured at 1 atmosphere and 70ºF.
Liquid measured at 0ºF and saturated pressure.
Nm3 (normal cubic meter) gas measured at 1 atmosphere and 0ºC.
All values round to the nearest 4/5 significant numbers.