``From Dieselgate to nitrogen'' - An experimental setting (not only) for chemistry education

Abstract

Nitrogen is an element essential for survival - in combination with other elements, it is the basis for plant and animal life forms, for example as a component of proteins and enzymes. Anthropogenic influences however have significantly destabilised the nitrogen cycle, which entails risks for alarming consequences for humans and the environment. One cause of the excessive input of reactive nitrogen compounds into the environment is combustion processes in traffic and industry resulting in high nitrogen oxide pollution especially in urban and congested areas. To reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, chemistry provides a solution with the SCR process, which has been manipulated by several car manufacturers. In the context of Dieselgate, this article uses innovative experiments to show how the nitrogen problem can be introduced into school education.