1. Stop! What is a cycle? Discuss A series of events that repeat, with no beginning or end. Stop! Why is Nitrogen important to us? Nitrogen makes up the proteins in our bodies.

2. What is nitrogen? Nitrogen is an element. 78% of the earth’s atmosphere rare in soil major component of DNA N colorless, odorless gas

4. Nitrogen must be converted -fixed - into useable compounds. Although nitrogen is abundant in the atmosphere, N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 organisms can not use N 2 in its gas state. Where does nitrogen come from?

5. Nitrogen Fixation is the process that causes the nitrogen molecules found in the atmosphere to break apart so they can combine with other atoms.

6. There are 2 kinds of bacteria that move nitrogen through the nitrogen cycle. bacteria that change nitrogen from a gas to a solid. bacteria that changes it from a solid to a gas. Some bacteria live in the soil and others live in the roots of plants

7. nitrates Bacteria convert nitrogen gas into nitrate solids, NO 3. Plants can absorb nitrate solids through their roots. Energy from lightning during a thunderstorm converts N 2 (gas) into nitrate solids, NO 3. N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 nitrates N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2

8. Other bacteria in the soil break down nitrate solids (NO 3 ) back into N 2 (gas). N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2

9. Denitrification is the process in which bacteria in the soil convert nitrates into nitrogen gas.

10. nitrates N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2

11. Discuss So, what would happen if the bacteria or lightening were removed from the were removed from thenitrogen cycle? cycle?

12. ammonia nitrates waste decomposers Animal wastes decompose, adding nitrogen in the form of ammonia (NH 4 ) back to the soil. Plants and animals contain nitrogen compounds. Decomposers break down biotic organisms and release the nitrogen compound in the form of ammonia (NH 4 ) N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2

13. Ammonification is the process in which decomposers (bacteria and fungi) convert amino acids from dead animals and wastes into ammonium.

14. ammonia nitrates waste decomposers Other bacteria convert ammonia back into nitrate solids. N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2

15. Nitrification is the process in which bacteria convert ammonium into nitrates.

16. ammonia nitrates waste decomposers N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2 N2N2

17. Discuss Explain what causes the nitrogen cycle to continually change.