Which statement accurately reflects the behavior of nitrogen?

Nitrogen's behavior is accurately reflected in the statement that it can combine with oxygen to form nitrogen oxides (NOx). In various combustion processes, especially in high-temperature environments like engines and power plants, nitrogen reacts with oxygen. This reaction can produce several nitrogen oxides, including nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which are significant pollutants contributing to smog and acid rain.

Nitrogen is not inert; though it is relatively stable under normal conditions, it does participate in chemical reactions, particularly at high temperatures. This distinguishes it from the notion that nitrogen does not react. Additionally, while nitrogen is a major atmospheric component, it is not a major component of fuels themselves, as fuels typically consist primarily of hydrocarbons. Its role in combustion is not as a fuel component or as a reactant essential for the combustion process, but rather as an element that is involved in the reaction under certain conditions.