Nitrogen Cycle

Question 1

What is Nitrogen?

Answer 1

An element needed to create amino acids / proteins, DNA, RNA and ATP

Question 2

What are the 4 stages of the nitrogen cycle?

Answer 2

1. Nitrogen fixation
2. Nitrification
3. Dentrification
4. Ammonification

Question 3

What happens in Nitrogen Fixation?

Answer 3

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria break double bond between 2 nitrogen atoms in the atmosphere. This bacteria is free living in soil or living in root nodules of a plant.

Question 4

What happens in Nitrification?

Answer 4

A 2 stage oxidation reaction. Ammonium ions in soil converted into nitrate, then nitrate ions in the soil by nitrifying bacteria.

Question 5

What happens in dentrification?

Answer 5

Nitrogen in compounds is returned back to nitrogen gas in the atmosphere.

Question 6

What happens in ammonification?

Answer 6

Decomposes convert nitrogen-containing molecules in dead matter into ammonium compounds.

Question 7

Another way nitrogen gas is turned directly into nitrates?

Answer 7

Lightening