Nitric oxide

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/nitric-oxide

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the chemical formula?NO
2. What is the molecular type?Heteronuclear diatomic free radical
3. What is nitric oxide and why is it called a free radical?It's a tiny gas made of one nitrogen and one oxygen atom. It has an unpaired electron, which makes it very reactive.
4. How does lightning create nitric oxide?Lightning is a big electrical spark that mixes nitrogen and oxygen in the air, turning them into nitric oxide gas.

Free Radical: A molecule or atom with an unpaired valence electron, making it highly reactive and prone to oxidation.
Vasodilation: The widening of blood vessels, leading to increased blood flow and reduced blood pressure.
Endogenous: Originating or produced from within an organism, tissue, or cell.