Question

The molecule that nitrogen from the atmosphere is converted into is ammonia (NH3). Certain bacteria, known as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, add this molecule to the soil through a process called nitrogen fixation.

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Answer 1

The process by which nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into ammonia is called nitrogen fixation, an essential step in the nitrogen cycle that enables plants to obtain this critical macronutrient.

Step-by-step explanation:

​Nitrogen fixation is a biological process where nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into ammonia (NH₃), a form that plants can absorb and utilize. These bacteria often form symbiotic relationships with legumes, living in root nodules and aiding in the plant's nitrogen acquisition.

Ammonification is the release of ammonia during the decomposition of nitrogen-containing organic matter, which is further processed by nitrifying bacteria into nitrites (NO₂⁻) and nitrates (NO₃⁻). Plants take up these nitrites and nitrates to synthesize vital organic compounds like DNA and proteins. Conversely, denitrifying bacteria return nitrogen to the atmosphere by converting nitrates back into nitrogen gas (N₂), thereby completing the nitrogen cycle.