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How is atmospheric nitrogen converted into a biologically useful form of nitrogen?

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User Kiriloff
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1 Answer

4 votes

Answer:

The atmosphere is the largest reservoir of the nitrogen as it is composed of 78% of Nitrogen. Although 78%, this is not used by the organisms directly as the nitrogen molecule exists in nature in the form of divalent joined via triple bonds.

These triple bonds require a great amount of energy to be broken and used. Only a few prokaryotic organisms called nitrogen-fixing bacteria have the capability to break these triple bonds as they contain enzymes-nitrogenase complex which converts the atmospheric nitrogen to usable forms like ammonia, nitrates and nitrites. About 92% of the atmospheric nitrogen is fixed through this way rest through thunderstorms and Haber's process.

Thus, nitrogen-fixing bacteria is the answer.

answered
User Jeanne
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8.3k points
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