The nitrogen cycle requires what to convert nitrogen to nitrites and nitrates.
The conversion of nitrogen to nitrites and nitrates requires bacteria, specifically nitrifying bacteria.
Living organisms can incorporate what into their metabolism
Living organisms can incorporate various substances into their metabolism, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins, minerals, and other necessary nutrients. These substances are essential for the growth, development, and maintenance of the organisms. Some organisms may also incorporate light energy through photosynthesis to produce organic compounds.
To understand what the nitrogen cycle requires to convert nitrogen to nitrites and nitrates, let's break it down step by step.
1. First, nitrogen gas (N2) from the atmosphere needs to be converted into a form that can be used by plants and other organisms. This process is called nitrogen fixation.
2. Nitrogen fixation can occur through two main pathways: biological fixation and industrial fixation. Biological fixation is carried out by certain types of bacteria, known as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium (NH4+). Industrial fixation, on the other hand, is a human-driven process that uses high temperature and pressure to convert nitrogen gas into ammonia (NH3), which can later be used to produce ammonium.
3. Once ammonia or ammonium is produced, nitrifying bacteria come into play. These bacteria oxidize ammonia (NH3) into nitrites (NO2-) through a process called nitrification. Nitrosomonas bacteria convert ammonia to nitrites in the first step of nitrification.
4. The next step in the nitrogen cycle is the conversion of nitrites to nitrates (NO3-). This process is also carried out by nitrifying bacteria, specifically the Nitrobacter species. Nitrobacter bacteria use oxygen to oxidize nitrites, transforming them into nitrates.
Therefore, to convert nitrogen to nitrites and nitrates in the nitrogen cycle, it requires the presence of nitrogen-fixing bacteria for nitrogen fixation, and nitrifying bacteria (Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter species) for the conversion of ammonia to nitrites and nitrites to nitrates, respectively.
It is worth noting that denitrifying bacteria play a role in the nitrogen cycle as well. These bacteria convert nitrates back into nitrogen gas, completing the cycle.