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ScienceSurprise 4/5Difficulty 2/5Reviewed on September 14, 2026

The air we breathe is composed of about 78 percent nitrogen.

Why it is true

Atmospheric air is composed of about 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen and 1 percent other gases, such as argon and carbon dioxide. Despite being the most abundant gas, nitrogen is not used directly by most living beings.

Source: NOAA

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