Nitrogen Fixation
Nitrogen is an essential constituent of proteins, which are the building blocks of all the living beings. Our atmosphere contains 78% of Nitrogen but it can not be used directly by the majority of living organisms. There are Five main processes on the basis of which the entire nitrogen cycle can be explained. 1.Nitrogen Fixation : This process involves conversion of gaseous nitrogen into ammonia or nitrates which can be used by plants. It involves the following two steps: a.) Activation: activation of nitrogen requires 169kcal of energy fixation of each mol of nitrogen(28g) & the molecular nitrogen is converted into atomic nitrogen. N^2---> 2N b.) Fixation : Activated nitrogen combines with hydrogen to from ammonia. In this step per mol synthesis of ammonia liberates 13kcal of energy. 2N+3H^2------> 2NH^3 Atmospheric nitrogen can be fixed to converted to biologically usable form: 1.Atmospheric Fixation: Lightening, combustion...