THE NITROGEN CYCLE

78% of the atmosphere constitutes of nitrogen.

The nitrogen cycle is the balance of reaction which incorporates how nitrogen is
removed and placed in the soil and atmosphere.
Input nitrogen cycle (from the board):
Simplified Version Shown Below showing the processes involved in Nitrogen
Cycle

N2 in the
atmosphere

Removal and
Denitrification
fixation of N2

Nitrification of
ammonia

Decay/Ammonification
Assimilation in
plant and
animals
 N2 cannot be used due to its triple bonds, extremely hard to bond with
The nitrogen level in the air stays constant currently due to the large
abundance of nitrogen in the atmosphere
Nitrogen Fixation: the chemical processes by which atmospheric nitrogen is
assimilated into organic compounds
Nitrification: This is the oxidation of ammonia or ammonium to nitrite followed by the
oxidation of the nitrite to nitrate
Assimilation: the absorption and digestion of food or nutrients by the body or any
biological system.
Denitrification: process where nitrate is reduced and ultimately produces molecular
nitrogen (N2) through a series of intermediate gaseous nitrogen oxide products.
Ammonia Oxidation:
Haber Process: This is an industrial process by which synthetic ammonia is
made to form nitrogen based fertilizers, from removing nitrogen gas by
fractional distillation. (requires a lot of energy)
Heat: High temperatures in Furnace, and high temperatures of lighting
results in nitrogen oxide being formed.
NB: Climate change has been linked to increase the rate of lightening
Nitrogen oxides made during the nitrogen cycle have harmful effects on the

Negative Effects of Nitrogen:

Photochemical Smog: When nitrogen dioxide reacts with hydrocarbon,
sunlight and air (ozone) to form photochemical smog.
Acid Rain: NO2 acts as catalyst to oxides SO2 to form acid rain
Can decompose Ozone: Nitric oxide formed from nitrogen dioxide
Eutrophication: This when water sources are contaminated with large
quantities of fertilizers

Uses of Nitrogen:

Used as Fertilizers
Used to make proteins
Used to make amino acids