What is the Difference Between Nitrogen and Nitrate?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between nitrogen and nitrate is that nitrogen is an element, while nitrate is a compound of nitrogen and oxygen. Here are some key points to consider:
- Nitrogen: It is a chemical element with the atomic number 7 and symbol N, and it is the main reservoir of nitrogen in its gaseous form. Plants cannot use gaseous nitrogen directly, so some bacteria convert it into water-soluble forms like nitrates, nitrites, or ammonium.
- Nitrate: Nitrate is an anion composed of one part nitrogen and three parts oxygen, with nitrogen making up about 22.6% of the nitrate ion. Nitrates are highly available anionic forms containing nitrogen, and they are naturally occurring in the environment. Plants can absorb nitrogen in nitrate form, making it a crucial nutrient for plant growth.
In summary:
- Nitrogen is a chemical element (N).
- Nitrate is a compound of nitrogen and oxygen (NO3-).
- Nitrogen is the main reservoir of nitrogen in its gaseous form.
- Nitrate is a water-soluble form of nitrogen used by plants.
When it comes to testing and reporting nitrate levels, some laboratories report the concentration of nitrate (NO3-), while others report the amount of nitrogen in the nitrate ion (nitrate nitrogen). To convert between nitrate and nitrate nitrogen, you can use the following formulas:
- Nitrate = Nitrate Nitrogen x 4.43
- Nitrate Nitrogen = Nitrate x 0.226
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Nitrogen and Nitrate? Comparative Table: Nitrogen vs Nitrate
Comparative Table: Nitrogen vs Nitrate
Here is a table comparing the differences between nitrogen and nitrate:
Property | Nitrogen | Nitrate |
---|---|---|
Definition | Nitrogen is an element, symbolized by N and having the atomic number 7. | Nitrate is a compound of nitrogen and oxygen. |
Form | Nitrogen exists as a gas and is the main reservoir of nitrogen. | Nitrates are highly available anionic forms containing nitrogen. |
Valency | Nitrogen atom is trivalent. | Nitrate anion is monovalent. |
Charge | Free nitrogen atom has no charge. | Nitrate anion has a negative charge. |
Oxidation Number | Nitrogen does not have a specific oxidation number, as it is an element. | The nitrogen oxidation number in nitrates is +5. |
Geometric Shape | Not applicable | Nitrate has a trigonal, planar geometric shape. |
Uses | Not applicable | Nitrates are used in fertilizers and explosives. |
Please note that while nitrogen and nitrate sound similar, they are very different terms. Nitrogen is an element, while nitrate is a compound of nitrogen and oxygen.
Read more:
- Nitrate vs Nitrite
- Ammonia vs Ammonium Nitrate
- Nitrite vs Nitrogen Dioxide
- Sodium Nitrate vs Sodium Nitrite
- Nitrogen vs Phosphorus
- Ammonia vs Ammoniacal Nitrogen
- Sodium Chloride vs Sodium Nitrate
- Ammonium Nitrate vs Ammonium Sulphate
- Nitrogen vs Phosphorus Fertilizer
- Ammonium Nitrate vs Ammonium Sulfate
- Organic vs Inorganic Nitrogen
- N2O4 vs NO2
- Ammonium Nitrate vs Urea
- Nitrogen Fixation vs Nitrification
- Nitric Oxide vs Nitrous Oxide
- Nitric Acid vs Nitrous Acid
- Calcium Ammonium Nitrate vs Ammonium Nitrate
- NH3N vs NH4N
- Nitromethane vs Methyl Nitrite