EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -For nitrogen to be available to make proteins, DNA, and other biologically important compounds, it must first be converted into a different chemical form. The process of converting N2 into biologically available nitrogen is called nitrogen fixation.

Detailed explanation-2: -Fixation. Nitrogen in its gaseous form (N2) can’t be used by most living things. (Plants for example, do not have the required enzymes to make use of atmospheric nitrogen.) It has to be converted or ‘fixed’ to a more usable form through a process called fixation.

Detailed explanation-3: -Nitrogen fixation is a chemical process that converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which is absorbed by organisms. Nitrogen fixation is essentially converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can more readily utilize.

Detailed explanation-4: -Nitrogen fixed by bacteria is utilized by plants to synthesize important biomolecules which are in turn used by animals to derive their nitrogen requirements from plants. Therefore, nitrogen fixation is essential for the synthesis of important biomolecules required to carry out life processes.

Detailed explanation-5: -Nitrogen fixation in nature Nitrogen is fixed, or combined, in nature as nitric oxide by lightning and ultraviolet rays, but more significant amounts of nitrogen are fixed as ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates by soil microorganisms. More than 90 percent of all nitrogen fixation is effected by them.