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Nitrogen gas (N2) is unusable by most organisms because they lack the ability to convert it into a usable form like ammonia (NH3) or nitrate (NO3-). This process, known as nitrogen fixation, is carried out by certain bacteria and archaea.

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What is the large reservoir of nitrogen that is unusable by most organisms?

The large reservoir of nitrogen that is unusable by most organisms is atmospheric nitrogen (N2). This form of nitrogen is inert and cannot be directly utilized by plants and animals. It needs to be converted into a usable form through the process of nitrogen fixation before it can be incorporated into biological molecules.


What elements are most organisms unable to take from the atmosphere?

nitrogen


What element are most organisms unable to make rom the atmosphere?

Most organisms are unable to make nitrogen directly from the atmosphere. Instead, they rely on nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be used by plants and other organisms for essential functions like protein synthesis.


Can most organisms use the free nitrogen in air?

No, most organisms cannot use the free nitrogen in the air. Instead, certain bacteria and archaea have the ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use through a process called nitrogen fixation. This fixed nitrogen then moves through the food chain as organisms consume plants and other organisms.


Why is it difficult to integrate nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into the nitrogen cycle of the biosphere?

Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere is in a very stable form (N2) and requires a large amount of energy to be converted into a usable form by living organisms. This process, called nitrogen fixation, is carried out mainly by specialized bacteria. It is energetically demanding and cannot be done by most organisms, making the integration of atmospheric nitrogen into the biosphere challenging.

Related Questions

What is the large reservoir of nitrogen that is unusable by most organisms?

The large reservoir of nitrogen that is unusable by most organisms is atmospheric nitrogen (N2). This form of nitrogen is inert and cannot be directly utilized by plants and animals. It needs to be converted into a usable form through the process of nitrogen fixation before it can be incorporated into biological molecules.


In what form most organisms obtain nitrogen?

Most organisms obtain nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO3-) or ammonium (NH4+). These forms of nitrogen are usually present in the soil and can be taken up by plants. Animals then obtain nitrogen by consuming plants or other animals.


What is atmospheric nitrogen fixationand how does it affect organisms?

The atmosphere is made up of 70% nitrogen. Nitrogen is also a key ingredient for proteins and nucleic acids such as DNA, and without these, no life could exist. However, the nitrogen in the atmosphere is unusable for most organisms. A few types of microorganisms are capable of fixing nitrogen into a bioavailable form, and that is the process of nitrogen fixation. The fixed nitrogen can then be used by plants to create amino acids, and the amino acids are then consumed by animals.


Do most organisms take in nitrogen from the air or water and use it to carry out their process life?

Most organisms take in nitrogen from the soil in the form of nitrates and ammonia, which are produced by nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These bacteria convert nitrogen gas from the air into usable forms. Some aquatic organisms can also directly uptake nitrogen from water in the form of nitrate, nitrite, or ammonia.


What elements are most organisms unable to take from the atmosphere?

nitrogen


Can most organisms can use free nitrogen air?

No, most organisms cannot use free nitrogen gas from the air. Instead, certain bacteria have the ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can absorb and utilize. This process is known as nitrogen fixation.


What element are most organisms unable to make rom the atmosphere?

Most organisms are unable to make nitrogen directly from the atmosphere. Instead, they rely on nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be used by plants and other organisms for essential functions like protein synthesis.


Do most organisms use nitrogen directly form air?

Since the air around you is about 78% nitrogen gas, you might think it would be easy for organisms to retrieve nitrogen easily. However, most organisms cannot use nitrogen gas. Nitrogen gas is called "free" nitrogen because it's not combined with other atoms. Most organisms can use nitrogen only when it has been combined with other elements to form nitrogen-containing compounds. So, is that the answer you were looking for (possibly for homework)?


Do most organisms use nitrogen in the form of nitrogen gas?

No. They can not use nitrogen gas because the triple bonds of nitrogen can only be broken down for use in living things, plants, by the symbiotic bacteria in the root nodes. Then in other forms nitrogen is taken up into the plant and from there to other trophic levels.


Where does most of the nitrogen that the bacteria use come from?

Most of the nitrogen that bacteria use comes from the atmosphere in the form of nitrogen gas (N2). Some bacteria, known as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, have the ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be used by other organisms, such as ammonia or nitrate.


Why is free nitrogen a problem for organisms?

Free nitrogen is a problem for organisms because most organisms cannot directly use nitrogen gas (N2) in the atmosphere. Instead, they require nitrogen in a usable form like nitrate or ammonium to build essential molecules like proteins and nucleic acids. Some specialized organisms, like nitrogen-fixing bacteria, can convert free nitrogen into a usable form through a process called nitrogen fixation.


Why must living organisms rely on nitrogen fixation for their source of nitrogen?

Biology relies on chemistry. The nitrogen must be able to attach to the receptor molecule to be used. Nitrogen fixation renders nitrogen into a less s table form so that it can break bonds and attach to other molecules.