The Nitrogen Cycle

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TheNitrogen Cycle
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What is nitrogen?
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Periodic Table
Nitrogen is an element on the periodic table

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Where is nitrogen found in the environment?
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The largest single source of nitrogen is in the
atmosphere.
Nitrogen makes up 78 of our air!
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What happens to atmospheric nitrogen(N2) in the
nitrogen cycle?
N
N
N
N
N
N
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Atmospheric nitrogen is converted to ammonia or
nitrates.
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N
Atmospheric Nitrogen (N2)
N
N
Nitrates (NO3) Nitrogen combines with Oxygen to
make Nitrates
Ammonia (NH3) Nitrogen combines with Hydrogen to
make Ammonia
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Why does atmospheric nitrogen need to be
converted?
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N
N
N
N
N
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It is one of natures great ironies
Nitrogen is an essential component of DNA, RNA,
and proteinsthe building blocks of life. (They
help us make new cells in our body!) Although the
majority of the air we breathe is nitrogen, most
living organisms are unable to use nitrogen as it
exists in the atmosphere!
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How does atmospheric nitrogen get changed into a
form that can be used by most living organisms?
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N
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By traveling through one of the four processes in
the Nitrogen Cycle!
(1) Nitrogen Fixation
(4) Denitrification
Nitrogen Cycle
(3) Nitrification
(2) Ammonification
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The first process in the nitrogen cycle
isNitrogen Fixation!
(1) Nitrogen Fixation
Nitrogen Cycle
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What is nitrogen fixation and what does it
mean to say nitrogen gets fixed?
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N
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Nitrogen Fixation is the process that causes
the strong two-atom nitrogen molecules found in
the atmosphere to break apart so they can combine
with other atoms. Nitrogen gets
fixed when it is combined with oxygen or
hydrogen.
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N
Oxygen
Hydrogen
Hydrogen
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N
N
N
Oxygen
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There are three ways that nitrogen gets fixed!
(a) Atmospheric Fixation
(b) Industrial Fixation
(c) Biological Fixation
Bacteria
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Atmospheric Fixation(Only 5 to 8 of the
Fixation Process)The enormous energy of
lightning breaks nitrogen molecules apart and
enables the nitrogen atoms to combine with oxygen
forming nitrogen oxides (N2O). Nitrogen oxides
dissolve in rain, forming nitrates. Nitrates
(NO3) are carried to the ground with the rain.
Lightning fixes Nitrogen!
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N
O
Nitrogen combines with Oxygen
Nitrogen oxides forms
(N2O)
Nitrogen oxides dissolve in rain and change to
nitrates
(NO3)
Plants use nitrates to grow!
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Industrial FixationUnder great pressure, at a
temperature of 600 degrees Celcius, and with the
use of a catalyst, atmospheric nitrogen (N2) and
hydrogen are combined to form ammonia (NH3).
Ammonia can be used as a fertilizer.
N
N
H
N
H3
Industrial Plant combines nitrogen and hydrogen
Ammonia is formed
(NH3)
Ammonia is used a fertilizer in soil
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Biological Fixation(where MOST nitrogen fixing
is completed)There are two types of Nitrogen
Fixing Bacteria
Free Living Bacteria (fixes 30 of N2)
Symbiotic Relationship Bacteria (fixes 70 of
N2)
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Free Living BacteriaHighly specialized bacteria
live in the soil and have the ability to combine
atmospheric nitrogen with hydrogen to make
ammonia (NH3).
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N
H
N
H3
Free-living bacteria live in soil and combine
atmospheric nitrogen with hydrogen
(NH3)
Nitrogen changes into ammonia
Bacteria
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Symbiotic Relationship BacteriaBacteria live in
the roots of legume family plants and provide the
plants with ammonia (NH3) in exchange for the
plants carbon and a protected home.
Legume plants
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NH3
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Roots with nodules where bacteria live
Nitrogen changes into ammonia.
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Most atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is fixed and
changed to ammonia (NH3). Ammonia is highly
toxic to many organisms. Can plants use
ammonia?
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Very few plants can use ammonia (NH3) but,
fortunately the second processAmmonification
can help!
(1) Nitrogen Fixation
(2) Ammonification
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What is ammonification?
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Ammonification Bacteria decomposers break down
amino acids from dead animals and wastes into
nitrogen ammonium.
Bacteria decomposers break down amino acids into
ammonium
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Why is ammonification necessary?
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Because plants cannot use the organic forms of
nitrogen that are in the soil as a result of(1)
wastes (manure and sewage)(2) compost and
decomposing roots and leaves
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How does ammonification occur?
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Microorganisms convert the organic nitrogen to
ammonium. The ammonium is either taken up by the
plants (only in a few types of plants) or is
absorbed into the soil particles. Ammonium (NH4)
in the soil is stored up to later be changed into
inorganic nitrogen, the kind of nitrogen that
most plants can use.
Bacteria converts organic nitrogen to ammonium
(NH4)
Ammonium (NH4) is used by some plants
Bacteria
Ammonium (NH4) is stored in soil.
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What happens to ammonium (NH4) storedin the soil?
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It travels through thethird processof the
nitrogen cycle called Nitrification!
(1) Nitrogen Fixation
(2) Ammonification
(3) Nitrification
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First we will quickly run through a general
overview of the Nitrification Process
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Nitrifying bacteria in the ground first combine
ammonia with oxygen to form nitrites. Then
another group of nitrifying bacteria convert
nitrites to nitrates which green plants can
absorb and use!
Nitrifying bacteria in soil combine ammonia with
oxygen
Ammonia changes to nitrites
Nitrifying bacteria in soil convert nitrites to
nitrates
Ammonia
Nitrites
Nitrates
Plants absorb nitrates and grow!
(NH3)
(NO3)
(NO2)
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How does nitrogen reenter the atmosphere in the
nitrogen cycle?
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Through the fourth process called denitrification!
(1) Nitrogen Fixation
(4) Denitrification
(2) Nitrification
(3) Ammonification
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What does denitrification do?
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Denitrification converts nitrates (NO3) in the
soil to atmospheric nitrogen (N2) replenishing
the atmosphere.
Nitrogen in atmosphere (N2)
Nitrates (NO3) in Soil
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How does the denitrification process work?
Nitrates in soil
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Denitrifying bacteria live deep in soil and in
aquatic sediments where conditions make it
difficult for them to get oxygen. The
denitrifying bacteria use nitrates as an
alternative to oxygen, leaving free nitrogen gas
as a byproduct. They close the nitrogen cycle!
Nitrogen in atmosphere closes the nitrogen cycle!
(N2)
(NO3)
Denitrifying bacteria live deep in soil and use
nitrates as an alternative to oxygen making a
byproduct of nitrogen gas.
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Other ways that nitrogen returns to the
atmosphere
Emissions from industrial combustion and gasoline
engines create nitrous oxides gas (N2O).
Volcano eruptions emit nitrous oxides gas (N2O).
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(a)
(b)
N2
N2O
(1) Nitrogen Fixation
(4) Denitrification
(c)
Nitrogen Cycle
(3) Nitrification
(2) Ammonification
NO3
NH3
Ammonia is converted to nitrites and nitrates.
Organic nitrogen is converted to ammonium.
Nitrates in Soil
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(a)
(b)
N2
N2O
(1) _____________
(4) _____________
(c)
Nitrogen Cycle
(3) ____________
(2) _____________
NO3
NH3
Ammonia is converted to nitrites and nitrates.
Organic nitrogen is converted to ammonium.
Nitrates in Soil