Question

Why nitrogen fixation is an energy-consuming process?

Answer 1

Nitrogen fixation:

1. Nitrogen fixation is a biological process.
2. The atmospheric nitrogen is converted into ammonia which is another form of nitrogen by certain bacterial species like Rhizobium, Azotobacter, etc, or by other natural phenomena.
3. It takes place with the help of the nitrogenase enzyme.

Nitrogen fixation is an energy-consuming process:

1. Microbes need 16 moles of ATP for the reduction of each molecule of nitrogen.
2. A large amount of energy is needed by the microbe to fix one mole of nitrogen that is for the conversion $N_2$ into $N{H}_3$ the enzyme nitrogenase.
3. Microbes acquire this energy by oxidizing organic molecules.