Question

Conversion of nitrate to ammonia is a/an

• A. Amination process
• B. Deamination process
• C. Oxidative process
• D. Reductive process

Answer 1

The correct option is D Reductive process

Nitrogen in nitrate (NO${}_3$${}^{-}$) is present in the highly oxidized state and ammonia is present in reduced form. Hence, the conversion of nitrate to ammonia is a reductive process because in this process oxygen is replaced by the hydrogen atom. Reduction of nitrate to ammonia is a two-step process. Nitrate is first reduced to nitrite. The nitrite is then converted to ammonia. This reductive process takes place in the plant structures such as leaves and roots. Nitrates and nitrites cannot be incorporated into the cellular components directly. Thus, the ammonia that is produced by the reductive process in the plant cell is then incorporated into the cellular components such as protein and nucleic acids.

Thus, the correct answer is option D.