Nitrogen Cycle What is Nitrogen v Nitrogen makes

Nitrogen Cycle

What is Nitrogen? v. Nitrogen makes up about 78% of our atmosphere. v. Nitrogen in the atmosphere it is mostly in the N 2 which is a compound that plants form of ______, and animals cannot use. v. The process of converting nitrogen into compounds that can be used by plants and animals is called the ___________. Nitrogen Cycle

Why we care about nitrogen… Nitrogen is an essential component of DNA, RNA and Proteins ___________. The building blocks of life.

How does atmospheric nitrogen (N 2) get changed into a form that can be used by most living organisms? Four By traveling through one of the ____ processes in the Nitrogen Cycle! (1) Nitrogen Fixation (4) Denitrification Nitrogen Cycle (3) Nitrification (2) Ammonification

Process 1: Nitrogen Fixation __________ is the process in which the N 2 compound in the atmosphere breaks and combines with other compounds. “fixed” The nitrogen is _____ when it combines hydrogen oxygen with _______ or ________. N H H N N N 2 H Ammonia (NH 3) Nitrous Oxide (N 2 O)

Three ways to “fix” Nitrogen bacteria v. Main process: Special ______ convert the nitrogen gas (N 2) to ammonia (NH 3), which only ____ some plants can use (peas, beans). Lightning v_________ strikes convert N 2 to N 2 O or NO 3. Chemical v. Industrial production. ______ manipulation turns N 2 into NH 3 (Fertilizer)

Process 2: Ammonification ___________ - After all the living organic nitrogen organisms have used the __________, decomposer bacteria convert the nitrogen to ammonia ________. H N H Bacteria Organic Nitrogen (proteins) H Ammonia

Process 3: Nitrification ________ is the process that converts ammonia (NH 3) into nitrites (NO 2) and nitrates (NO 3) which most ____ can plants _______ use. Both Note: Ammonia comes from ______ nitrogen fixation and ammonification How is it done? Bacteria! ___________ H H O N H N O O O N O

Process 4: Denitrification ________: Process in which nitrogen convert back compounds ___________ into atmospheric nitrogen (N 2 or N 2 O). The main process is performed by bacteria ___________ in the soil. It can also happen by _______ burning fossil fuels. N 2 NO 3 N 2 O

N 2 N 2 O (1) Nitrogen Fixation (4) Denitrification Nitrogen Cycle (2) Ammonification (3) Nitrification Ammonia is converted to nitrites and nitrates. NO 3 NH 3 Nitrates in Soil Organic nitrogen is converted to ammonia.

Nitrogen in the air nitrogen fixing plant eg pea, clover animal protein plant made protein root nodules (containing nitrogen fixing bacteria) denitrifying bacteria nitrates absorbed dead plants & animals urine & feces decomposition by bacteria & fungi nitrates bacteria (nitrifying bacteria) ammonia nitrites bacteria

Human Impact Combustion v__________, releases toxic nitrogen compounds into the atmosphere. Commercial Fertilizers v______________ release nitrous oxide into the atmosphere and introduce excess nitrogen into the environment. v. Remove nitrogen from the soil when we mine it mineral deposits for nitrogen rich _____________. v. Discharge of ______________ municipal sewage releases excess nitrogen into the water ecosystems which disrupts the aquatic balance and kills fish.

Commercial Fertilizers #1 contributor of new nitrogen in v. Are the ______ the nitrogen cycle. limiting factor v. Added because nitrogen is a ________ for plant growth. v. Problems: hard to apply fertilizer and keep it in one area. Runoff, evaporation, etc. . So farmers twice as much apply about __________ as they need. v. Extra nitrogen disrupts the ________. food chain

Exit Ticket 1. What are the four main processes of the nitrogen cycle? 2. What is it called when bacteria convert nitrogen into ammonia? 3. What organism is required for every step of the nitrogen cycle?