Nitrogen

Nitrogen

1. Explain the Importance of recycling Nitrogen

   • Plants and Animals cannot live without Nitrogen
   • By recycling Nitrogen, nothing is wasted so the amount of Nitrogen never changes

2. Bacteria Involved

   • Three types
     • Nitrogen Fixing
       • Turns N2 gas into nitrogen compunds (nitrates)
     • Nitrifying Bacteria
       • Turns ammonia into Nitrates
     • Denitrifying bacteria
       • Turns Nitrates into N2 gas

3. General Facts of Nitrogen

   • Different forms of Nitrogen
     • Nitrogen
       • Most common form. Makes up to 78% of the atmosphere but cannot be used by plants
       • N2
     • Nitrate - (Nitrogen Compounds)
       • Form used by plants. Lost easily to groundwater
       • NO3
     • Ammonium Nitrogen
       • NH4
       • Used directly in proteins by plants. It is not lost as easily from the soil
     • Organic Nitrogen
       • C-NH2 (where C is a complex organic group)
       • Exists in many forms- It is changed into ammonium, then into nitrates
   • What is Nitrogen Fixing?
     • When Nitrogen turns into nitrates
   • What is Nitrogen used for?
     • Fertilizer
     • Nitric Acid
     • Nylon
     • Dyes
     • Explosives
     • Creates Ammonia
   • Organisms involved within the cycle
     • Plants
       • Takes in Nitrates to make protein for growth
     • Decomposers - bacteria and fungi
       • Converts proteins and urea into Ammonia
     • Animals
       • Eating passes down Nitrates (Nitrogen Compounds) along a food web
       • Nitrates in dead plants and animals are being broken down by decomposers and returns to the soil