Most of the nitrogen used in the chemical industry is obtained by the fractional distillation of liquid air. It is then used to synthesize ammonia. From this ammonia, a wide variety of important chemical products are prepared. They include fertilizers, nitric acid, urea, hydrazine and amines. An ammonia compound is also used to make nitrous oxide, a colorless gas popularly known as laughing gas.
Nitrous oxide combined with oxygen is used as an anesthetic for some types of surgery.
Nitrogren is used as a propellent in the U.S. Space Program. In addition, the oil industry uses nitrogen to increase the pressure in wells to force crude oil upward. Bayer Corporation is a research-based company with major businesses in health care and life sciences, and chemicals.