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- Oct 2024
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chem.libretexts.org chem.libretexts.org
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normal temperatures the oxygen and nitrogen gases do not react together. In the presence of very high temperatures nitrogen and oxygen do react together to form nitric oxide. These conditions are found in the combustion of coal and oil at electric power plants, and also during the combustion of gasoline in automobiles. Both of these sources contribute about equally to the formation of nitrogen oxides.
This sets the stage by explaining that under typical conditions, nitrogen and oxygen are stable and do not form compounds. This explains that high temperatures are needed for the reaction to occur and are key to forming nitrogen oxides.
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