Answer:
Nitrification is a biological process by which ammonia is oxidized to nitrites ([tex]NO_{2} ^{-}[/tex]) and then to nitrates ([tex]NO_{3} ^{-}[/tex]) by action of specialized bacteria in nature (such as nitrosomonas and nitrobacter).
Explanation:
This two-step process utilizes molecular atmospheric oxygen and ammonia and ammonium components of soil and nature.
(a.) Ammonia and ammonium compounds to nitrite
[tex]NH_{4} ^{+} + O_{2}[/tex] → [tex]NO_{2} ^{-} + 4H^{+}[/tex]
[tex]2NH_{3} ^{+} + 3O_{2}[/tex] → [tex]2NO_{2} ^{-} + 2H^{+} + 2H_{2} O[/tex]
(b.) Nitrite to nitrate
[tex]2NO_{2} ^{-} + O_{2}[/tex] → [tex]2NO_{3} ^{-} + energy[/tex]
(c.) The reverse process involves reduction of nitrates to molecular nitrogen, called denitrification (with succinic acid in the equation below).
[tex]4NO_{3} ^{-} + 10H^{+} + (CH_{2})_{2}(COOH)_{2}[/tex] → [tex]2N_{2} +4CO_{2} + 8 H_{2} O[/tex]
([tex]NO[/tex] and [tex]N_{2}O[/tex] is an intermediate product in this process.)
