Question

What is the conversion of ammonia into nitrates through Nitrosomonas called?

Answer 1

Nitrification:

1. The conversion of ammonia into nitrate is called nitrification.
2. It is carried out by some autotrophic bacteria such as Nitrosomonas, and Nitrococcus.

Steps of Nitrification:

1. Nitrification occurs in the soil. It includes two steps.
2. In these two steps oxidation of ammonia and nitrite happens to produce the final product nitrate.
3. In the first step, the ammonia is oxidized and converted into nitrites (NO₂).

$2N{H_4}^{+}+3O_2\to 2N{O_2}^{{}^{–}}+2H_{2}O+4H^{+}$

3. In the second step, the nitrite is again oxidized to produce nitrate (NO₃)

$N{O_2}^{-}+H_{2}O\to N{O_3}^{-}+2H^{+}+2e^{-}$