Question

Nitrifying bacteria convert the________________

• A. Nitrates into nitrites
• B. Ammonium salts into nitrates
• C. Ammonium salts into amino acids
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Ammonium salts into nitrates

Nitrifying bacteria are chemoautotrophic or chemolithotrophs depending on the genera (Nitrosomonas, Nitrosococcus, Nitrobacter, Nitrococcus) bacteria that grow by consuming inorganic nitrogen compounds. Many species of nitrifying bacteria have complex internal membrane systems that are the location for key enzymes in nitrification: ammonia monooxygenase, which oxidizes ammonia to hydroxylamine, and nitrite oxidoreductase, which oxidizes nitrite to nitrate. Nitrifying bacteria are a narrow species in the environment and are found in the lowest numbers, where considerable amounts of ammonia are present (areas with extensive protein decomposition, and sewage treatment plants). Nitrifying bacteria thrive in lakes and rivers streams with high inputs and outputs of sewage and wastewater and freshwater because of the low ammonia content.