Living organisms can incorporate ________ into their metabolism.(1 point)
Responses
nitrates
nitrates
nitrogen gas
nitrogen gas
ammonia
ammonia
nitrites
Living organisms can incorporate nitrates, nitrogen gas, ammonia, and nitrites into their metabolism, but the most direct forms of nitrogen taken up by most organisms are nitrates (NO3-) and ammonia (NH3). Nitrogen gas (N2) can be incorporated into metabolism by nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which convert it into a more bioavailable form such as ammonia. Nitrites (NO2-) are also an intermediate in the nitrogen cycle but are typically less directly taken up by organisms compared to nitrates and ammonia.
Please note that not all organisms can directly utilize each form of nitrogen. For example, plants primarily take up nitrates and ammonia from the soil, while certain bacteria and archaea are capable of reducing nitrogen gas to ammonia via the process of nitrogen fixation.