The Neutral Nitrogen

By Dr. Quazoo · Illustrated by Rose Freeland

The fourth and final adventure in the Molecule Series introduces nitrogen. Complete the collection and keep exploring the elements that connect our planet and living things.

Nitrogen in the atmosphereAtoms and moleculesElements in living things

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Series: The Molecule Series
Paperback ISBN: 9781067395063
Read it together: Storytime, questions, and discovery

Why share this book?

A story that opens
a conversation.

Close the four-book collection with an element that is all around us. Nitrogen provides a starting point for exploring the atmosphere and the connections between air, plants, and living things.

Bring the four stories together.

Revisit Hydrogen, Carbon, and Oxygen. Ask your child to name one thing they now wonder about each element. Curiosity is a better finish line than a quiz score.

7NNitrogen

Atomic number = the number
of protons in an atom

The science behind the story

All around us. Often unnoticed.

A nitrogen atom has seven protons. Nitrogen gas makes up about 78% of Earth’s atmosphere. It usually occurs as N₂, with two nitrogen atoms joined by a strong triple bond. Nitrogen is also a component of proteins and DNA.

A note for grown-ups

An electrically neutral atom has equal numbers of protons and electrons. That is different from saying a substance never reacts: nitrogen can form many compounds.

Explore nitrogen with the Royal Society of Chemistry

Beyond the pages

Keep exploring. Together.

Supplementary ideas for your family’s reading time.

Ask a big question

“Can something be important even when we cannot see it?”

Let your child share an idea before you offer an explanation. It’s fine to say, “Let’s find out together.”

Try a simple activity

Picture what is in the air

Draw a grid of 100 squares. Colour 78 for nitrogen, 21 for oxygen, and one for other gases. This is an approximate model of dry air. Ask which gas there is most of, and what the model leaves out.

More guidance for parents