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The reduction of nitrogen to ammonia, carried out by the enzyme nitrogenase, needs:
  • a)
    2 electrons
  • b)
    4 electrons
  • c)
    6 electrons
  • d)
    8 electrons
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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The reduction of nitrogen to ammonia, carried out by the enzyme nitrog...
The reduction of N2 by
this enzyme involves the transient interaction of two component proteins, designated the Fe protein and the MoFe protein, and minimally requires sixteen MgATP, eight protons, and eight electrons.
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The reduction of nitrogen to ammonia, carried out by the enzyme nitrog...
Reduction of Nitrogen to Ammonia

The reduction of nitrogen to ammonia is an essential process for the nitrogen cycle. The enzyme responsible for this conversion is nitrogenase, which is found in certain bacteria and archaea.

The reduction of nitrogen to ammonia requires a significant amount of energy and reducing power. Specifically, it requires a supply of electrons to drive the reaction forward. The electrons are used to reduce nitrogen to ammonia, and the process requires a total of eight electrons.

Explanation of answer

Therefore, the correct answer is option 'D', which states that the reduction of nitrogen to ammonia requires eight electrons. This is because the process involves the transfer of six electrons to reduce nitrogen gas to two NH3 molecules, and an additional two electrons to form the NH4+ ion.

Conclusion

In summary, the reduction of nitrogen to ammonia is a crucial process for the nitrogen cycle, and it requires a total of eight electrons. This process is carried out by the enzyme nitrogenase, which is found in certain bacteria and archaea.
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The reduction of nitrogen to ammonia, carried out by the enzyme nitrog...
Reduction of Nitrogen to Ammonia

The process of reducing nitrogen to ammonia requires the help of an enzyme called nitrogenase. This enzyme is found in certain bacteria, such as Rhizobium, and is responsible for converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be used by plants.

Electrons Required

The reduction of nitrogen to ammonia requires the transfer of a total of eight electrons. This is because nitrogen gas (N2) is a very stable molecule, and it requires a lot of energy to break the triple bond between the two nitrogen atoms. The eight electrons are used to break this bond and to reduce the nitrogen atoms to ammonia (NH3).

Nitrogenase

Nitrogenase is a complex enzyme that contains two main components: the Fe protein and the MoFe protein. The Fe protein is responsible for transferring electrons to the MoFe protein, which then uses the electrons to reduce nitrogen to ammonia.

The MoFe protein contains an iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMo-co) that is essential for its activity. This cofactor is capable of binding and activating nitrogen gas, allowing it to be reduced to ammonia.

In addition to the eight electrons required for the reduction of nitrogen to ammonia, the process also requires the input of energy in the form of ATP. This energy is needed to drive the reaction forward and to overcome the high activation energy required to break the triple bond in nitrogen gas.

Conclusion

In summary, the reduction of nitrogen to ammonia requires the transfer of eight electrons, which is carried out by the nitrogenase enzyme. This process is essential for the nitrogen cycle and is responsible for providing the nitrogen needed for plant growth and productivity.
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The reduction of nitrogen to ammonia, carried out by the enzyme nitrogenase, needs:a)2 electronsb)4 electronsc)6 electronsd)8 electronsCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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