What can fix nitrogen?
Select all that apply.
Responses
industrial processes
industrial processes
lightning
lightning
bacteria
bacteria
animals
bacteria
What is another one than bacteria?
Another option that can fix nitrogen is industrial processes.
The following can fix nitrogen:
- Bacteria
- Lightning
- Industrial processes
To determine what can fix nitrogen, we need to understand the concept of nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen fixation is the process by which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into a usable form, such as ammonia or nitrate, which can be utilized by living organisms. The main sources of nitrogen fixation are:
1. Industrial processes: Industrial processes can fix nitrogen through a method called the Haber-Bosch process. This process involves combining nitrogen gas with hydrogen gas to produce ammonia, which is then used to create synthetic fertilizers. Therefore, industrial processes are one of the sources of fixed nitrogen.
2. Lightning: Lightning is another natural source of nitrogen fixation. During a lightning strike, the high energy and temperature can cause the nitrogen gas (N2) in the atmosphere to react with oxygen (O2), forming nitrogen oxides (NOx). These nitrogen oxides can then dissolve in rain, eventually reaching the soil and water bodies, leading to nitrogen fixation.
3. Bacteria: Certain types of bacteria have the ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into a usable form. These nitrogen-fixing bacteria form symbiotic relationships with plants, such as legumes (e.g., soybeans, peas, clover) or some trees (e.g., alder, acacia), in which they reside within nodules on the plant roots. These bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which is then utilized by the host plant. This process is called biological nitrogen fixation.
Therefore, the correct options for what can fix nitrogen are:
- Industrial processes
- Lightning
- Bacteria