The air we breathe is composed primarily of nitrogen, which makes up about 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere. This high percentage of nitrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining the stability of our atmosphere and supporting life on Earth.
Nitrogen is a relatively inert gas, meaning it doesn’t easily react with other substances. This quality is essential for life because it helps to prevent spontaneous combustion, allows for the stabilization of other gases, and provides a buffer in our atmosphere. Besides nitrogen, the atmosphere contains about 21% oxygen, with the remaining 1% comprised of argon, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases.
This large proportion of nitrogen is vital for plants as well, serving as an essential element in the formation of proteins and nucleic acids. However, before plants can use nitrogen, it must be converted into a usable form by certain bacteria in the soil—a process known as nitrogen fixation.