Answer:
The process by which nitrogen is obtained from air on a large scale is called the cryogenic distillation of air. This process involves cooling the air to very low temperatures (-183°C) to liquefy it. The air is then fed into a distillation column, which separates it into its components, including nitrogen and oxygen. Since nitrogen has a slightly lower boiling point than oxygen, it can be separated from oxygen by taking advantage of this difference in boiling points.
In the distillation column, the air is separated into its components by fractionation. The cold liquid air is fed into the column, where it is heated and allowed to boil. The nitrogen and oxygen gases that are formed are then separated and collected at different points along the column. The collected gases are then further purified to remove any remaining impurities before being compressed and stored for use.
This process is highly efficient and cost-effective, making it the most common method for obtaining nitrogen on a large scale. Nitrogen obtained through this process is used in a wide range of industrial applications, including chemical manufacturing, food packaging, and electronics production.