Question

Nitrogen gas is first converted into _____ by certain _____ before it enters the land nitrogen cycle.

a) Nitrates, bacteria
b) Ammonia, fungi
c) Nitrites, algae
d) Urea, protozoa

Answer 1

Nitrogen gas is converted to ammonia by nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and the false statement about the nitrogen cycle is that nitrification converts nitrates to nitrites.

Step-by-step explanation:

Nitrogen gas is first converted into ammonia by certain nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it enters the land nitrogen cycle, making the correct answer to the student's question 'a) Nitrates, bacteria'. The false statement about the nitrogen cycle is 'c. Nitrification by bacteria converts nitrates (NO3-) to nitrites (NO2-)' because in reality, nitrification is a two-step process where ammonium (NH4+) is first converted to nitrite (NO2-) and then to nitrate (NO3-).