Question

During the nitrogen cycle, specialized bacteria living in the earth's _______ nitrogen taken from the _______ into ammonia. Another set of bacteria convert the ammonia to compounds called _______ that plants and animals can use.

1) atmosphere, soil, nitrates
2) ocean, air, nitrites
3) soil, atmosphere, nitrates
4) atmosphere, ocean, nitrites

Answer 1

In the nitrogen cycle, bacteria in the soil convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which is then transformed to nitrates usable by plants and animals. The correct sequence is 'soil, atmosphere, nitrates.'

Step-by-step explanation:

During the nitrogen cycle, specialized bacteria living in the earth's soil convert nitrogen taken from the atmosphere into ammonia. Another set of bacteria convert the ammonia to compounds called nitrates that plants and animals can use. Therefore, the correct sequence for the blanks in the student's question would be 'soil, atmosphere, nitrates,' which corresponds to option 3)