Estimate

A randomly chosen dry-air particle is nitrogen

Probability:
78.1%
Odds:
3.6 to 1
dBan
+5.5 dBan

By particle count, nitrogen molecules make up about 78% of the representative dry-air sample.

Calculation

p ≈ 0.7808 by particle count

Assumptions

Under an ideal-gas model, the published dry-air volume fraction equals the particle fraction. Local composition varies.

Sources

  1. NASA Earth Fact Sheet composition updated 15 November 2024