There are classically three states of matter -- solid, liquid and gas. Helium and Nitrogen are gasses.
Nitrogen is a nutrient that is changed by bacteria into different forms through a process called nitrogen fixation. Bacteria can convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into forms that plants can use, such as ammonium (NH4+) or nitrate (NO3-). This process is important for bringing nitrogen into the ecosystem and making it available for plant growth.
nitrogen
Soil acts as a nitrogen reservoir by absorbing and storing nitrogen from various sources such as organic matter, fertilizer application, or atmospheric deposition. This stored nitrogen is available for uptake by plants and can be converted into different forms by soil microorganisms, contributing to nutrient cycling in the ecosystem.
Nitrogen mineralization is the process by which organic nitrogen compounds present in soil are converted into inorganic forms such as ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-), making nitrogen available for uptake by plants. This process is carried out by soil microorganisms during decomposition of organic matter.
In the nitrogen cycle, the primary inputs of matter include atmospheric nitrogen (N₂), organic matter (like dead plants and animals), and ammonia (NH₃) from microbial processes. The outputs consist of various nitrogen compounds such as nitrates (NO₃⁻), nitrites (NO₂⁻), and nitrogen gas (N₂) released back into the atmosphere. Energy inputs are derived from sunlight, which fuels photosynthesis in plants that incorporate nitrogen into organic forms. The cycle is driven by microbial activity, which requires metabolic energy to convert nitrogen between its various forms.
Nitrogen is stored in the soil primarily in organic matter, such as in plant residues and decaying organic material. It can also be stored in the soil in inorganic forms, such as nitrate and ammonium ions, which are important nutrients for plant growth. Nitrogen can be transformed into different chemical states by soil microbes and plants.
The process that repeatedly moves matter between different forms on Earth is the biogeochemical cycle. Examples include the carbon cycle, water cycle, and nitrogen cycle. These cycles involve the movement of elements and compounds through organisms, the atmosphere, water bodies, and the Earth's crust.
Bacteria are essential to the nitrogen cycle.
Matter can exist in many forms.
The nitrogen cycle involves the transformation of nitrogen in various forms through different processes, including nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, and ammonification. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which is then transformed into nitrates by nitrifying bacteria. Plants absorb these nitrates, and when animals consume the plants, nitrogen is incorporated into their bodies. Eventually, decomposers break down organic matter, releasing nitrogen back into the atmosphere or soil, thus completing the cycle.
Matter is described as anything that has mass and occupies space. There are different types of matter, such as atoms and molecules, that exhibit different properties and interactions. Due to the diversity and complexity of matter, it's challenging to provide a single, absolute definition that encompasses all forms and behaviors of matter.
Microorganisms play a key role in the nitrogen cycle by converting nitrogen from the atmosphere into forms that can be used by plants. This process, known as nitrogen fixation, is carried out by nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Other microorganisms, like nitrifying bacteria and denitrifying bacteria, are involved in converting nitrogen compounds into different forms throughout the cycle.