Is Nitrogen a flammable gas?

Many gases are easily flammable because their particles are in rapid, random motion and can ignite with a small spark. Nitrogen gas (N₂), however, is non-flammable.

Reason Behind Non-Flammability

• Flammable gases are often chemically unstable, with electrons in higher-energy states that ignite readily.
• Nitrogen has a relatively stable electronic arrangement (half-filled p-orbitals), making it less reactive.
• Two nitrogen atoms form a very stable molecule: N ≡ N.

The triple bond in N₂ (one sigma and two pi bonds; sometimes described with a coordinate component) is extremely strong, giving N₂ a very high bond energy.

Stability and Combustion

Because of its strong triple bond, nitrogen has a high enthalpy of combustion—it would require a large energy input to break the bond and sustain burning. Under normal conditions, N₂ does not catch fire and is considered non-flammable.

Nitrogen’s chemical inertness arises from its stable electronic configuration and the very strong N≡N triple bond, which together prevent ignition under ordinary conditions.