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In order to synthesise nucleic acids, proteins, and other compounds, living creatures require nitrogen. However, most organisms cannot utilise the nitrogen gas, N2, in the atmosphere due to the difficulties in breaking the triple bond between nitrogen atoms.
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For animals and plants to use nitrogen, it must be "fixed" or bound into another form. Here is a description of fixed nitrogen and an outline of the many fixation mechanisms.
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Fixed nitrogen is nitrogen gas, N2, that has been transformed to ammonia (NH3), an ammonium ion (NH4), nitrate (NO3), or another nitrogen oxide so that it can be utilised by living organisms as a nutrient. Fixation of nitrogen is a crucial component of the nitrogen cycle.
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Nitrogen may be repaired by natural or artificial techniques.
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There are two key methods of natural nitrogen fixation:
Lightning Energy from lightning is used to convert water (H2O) and nitrogen gas (N2) into nitrates (NO3) and ammonia (NH3). Rain and snow transport these compounds to the surface, where they are utilised by plants.
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There are two key methods of natural nitrogen fixation:
Bacteria Diazotrophs fix nitrogen. Diazotrophs fix 90% of natural nitrogen. Diazotrophs can be free-living bacteria or blue-green algae or symbiotic with protozoa, termites, or plants. Ammonia can be turned into nitrates or ammonium compounds by diazotrophs from atmospheric nitrogen. Compounds nourish plants and fungus. Plants and plant-eaters provide nitrogen to mammals.
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There are multiple synthetic methods for fixing nitrogen:
Haber-Bosch The Haber-Bosch process is the most frequent commercial nitrogen fixation and ammonia generation technology. Karl Bosch industrialised Fritz Haber's 1918 Nobel Prize-winning reaction. Ammonia is produced by heating and pressurising nitrogen and hydrogen in an iron catalyst vessel.
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There are multiple synthetic methods for fixing nitrogen:
Cyanamide process The cyanamide process generates calcium cyanamide (CaCN2, commonly known as Nitrolime) by heating calcium carbide in an environment of pure nitrogen. As a result, calcium cyanamide is utilised as a plant fertiliser.
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There are multiple synthetic methods for fixing nitrogen:
Electric arc process In 1895, Lord Rayleigh invented the electric arc process, the first synthetic method for fixing nitrogen. Similar to how lightning fixes nitrogen in nature, the electric arc technique fixes nitrogen in a laboratory. By combining oxygen and nitrogen in the air, an electric arc produces nitrogen oxides. Air containing oxides is bubbled through water to produce nitric acid.