Nitrogen

Nitrogen

Explain the Importance of recycling Nitrogen
1. Plants and Animals cannot live without Nitrogen
2. By recycling Nitrogen, nothing is wasted so the amount of Nitrogen never changes
Bacteria Involved
1. Three types
  1. Nitrogen Fixing
    1. Turns N2 gas into nitrogen compunds (nitrates)
  2. Nitrifying Bacteria
    1. Turns ammonia into Nitrates
  3. Denitrifying bacteria
    1. Turns Nitrates into N2 gas
General Facts of Nitrogen
1. Different forms of Nitrogen
  1. Nitrogen
    1. Most common form. Makes up to 78% of the atmosphere but cannot be used by plants
    2. N2
  2. Nitrate - (Nitrogen Compounds)
    1. Form used by plants. Lost easily to groundwater
    2. NO3
  3. Ammonium Nitrogen
    1. NH4
    2. Used directly in proteins by plants. It is not lost as easily from the soil
  4. Organic Nitrogen
    1. C-NH2 (where C is a complex organic group)
    2. Exists in many forms- It is changed into ammonium, then into nitrates
2. What is Nitrogen Fixing?
  1. When Nitrogen turns into nitrates
3. What is Nitrogen used for?
  1. Fertilizer
  2. Nitric Acid
  3. Nylon
  4. Dyes
  5. Explosives
  6. Creates Ammonia
4. Organisms involved within the cycle
  1. Plants
    1. Takes in Nitrates to make protein for growth
  2. Decomposers - bacteria and fungi
    1. Converts proteins and urea into Ammonia
  3. Animals
    1. Eating passes down Nitrates (Nitrogen Compounds) along a food web
    2. Nitrates in dead plants and animals are being broken down by decomposers and returns to the soil

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	Created by Paolo Resma about 5 years ago