The Chemical Behavior of Active Nitrogen

Active nitrogen, which is formed on passage of an electric discharge through a stream of nitrogen, is detected by a characteristic yellow afterglow. It can be determined quantitatively, e.g. by gas phase “titration” with nitric oxide. Active nitrogen reacts with many chemical elements, as well as with organic and inorganic compounds. Although nitrogen atoms are responsible for many of the reactions of active nitrogen, electronically excited molecules also play a role.