What is Nitrogen emits blue or purple light?

Nitrogen is a gas that can shine bright blue or purple when it’s excited.

Imagine you have a balloon full of air, but instead of regular air, it's filled with nitrogen, which is one of the main gases in the air we breathe. Now, if you zap that balloon with electricity, like lightning, the nitrogen inside gets super energetic and starts to glow.

This glowing happens because the nitrogen atoms get excited, kind of like when you're really happy after getting your favorite toy. They then release energy as light, and depending on how they're excited, this light can be blue or purple.

When electricity passes through nitrogen gas, it gives the nitrogen atoms a big push. These atoms then "calm down" by sending out light waves, some of which we see as blue or purple.

This is why neon signs and some kinds of lights use nitrogen (or similar gases) to create their bright colors. It's not magic, it’s just gas having fun with electricity!