Question

Conversion of ammonia to nitrates is called -

• A. Ammonification
• B. Assimilation
• C. Nitrification
• D. Denitrification

Hint:

Remember that "nitrification" is the process of {making nitrates}, which is a usable form of nitrogen for most plants. It's a key step in making nitrogen available in the soil.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Concept Summary:
The question identifies a specific nitrogen cycle process: the oxidation of ammonia into nitrates.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Key nitrogen cycle processes are defined below:
Ammonification: Decomposers convert organic nitrogen from dead organisms into ammonia (\(NH_3\)) or ammonium (\(NH_4^+\)).
Assimilation: Plants and other organisms absorb nitrates or ammonia from the soil, incorporating the nitrogen into their proteins and nucleic acids.
Nitrification: A two-stage process. First, bacteria such as Nitrosomonas oxidize ammonia/ammonium to nitrites (\(NO_2^-\)). Second, bacteria like Nitrobacter oxidize nitrites to nitrates (\(NO_3^-\)). This overall conversion of ammonia to nitrates is nitrification, directly answering the question.
Denitrification: Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates (\(NO_3^-\)) back into atmospheric nitrogen gas (\(N_2\)), releasing nitrogen into the atmosphere.
Step 3: Answer:
The process of converting ammonia to nitrates is called nitrification.