Question

Ammonia is converted into _____1_________ which in turn are first converted into ___2_________ by bacteria such as ______3___________and then into ____4_________ by bacteria such as ____5___________​

Answer 1

Nitrogen is converted from atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into usable forms, such as NO2-, in a process known as fixation. The majority of nitrogen is fixed by bacteria, most of which are symbiotic with plants.

Recently fixed ammonia is then converted to biologically useful forms by specialized bacteria. This occurs in two steps: first, bacteria convert ammonia in to (nitrites) NO2-, and then other bacteria species convert it to NO3- (nitrate).

Nitriates are a form of nitrogen that is usable by plants. It is assimilated into plant tissue as protein. The nitrogen is passed through the food chain by animals that consume the plants, and then released into the soil by decomposer bacteria when they die.

De-nitrifying bacteria convert NO2- back into atmospheric nitrogen (N2), completing the cycle.