Question

How nitrogen fixation takes place by lightning and industries?

Answer 1

Nitrogen fixation:

The conversion of atmospheric, industrial, or biological nitrogen into such usable forms which can be utilized by living organisms is called Nitrogen fixation.

1. Nitrogen fixation by lightning:

• During lightning, the atmospheric nitrogen reacts with oxygen present in the atmosphere to form Nitric acid which comes down to the earth with rainwater and reacts with water to form nitrates that are absorbed by plants.

• The equation for the reaction is as follows:

$$\begin{gathered} N+O_2\to 2NO \\ 2NO+O_2\to 2N{O}_2 \\ 2N{O}_2+H_{2}O\to 2N{O}_2+N{O_3}^{-}+2H^{+} \end{gathered}$$

2. Nitrogen fixation by industries :

• The industries fix the atmospheric nitrogen through Haber's process where the nitrogen gas from the atmosphere is made to combine with hydrogen gas to form ammonia gas which is further converted to nitrates or it reacts with acids to form ammonium salts which can be used as fertilizers and are absorbed by plants.
• The equation for the reaction is as follows:

$$\begin{gathered} N_2+3H_2\to 2N{H}_3 \\ N{H}_3+HN{O}_3\to N{H}_{4}N{O}_3 \end{gathered}$$