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The Nitrogen Cycle worksheet for educational purposes, featuring labeled steps and key points about nitrogen transformation in ecosystems.

Diagram illustrating the nitrogen cycle with labeled boxes and arrows showing the flow of nitrogen through various processes like nitrogen fixation, nitrification, decomposition, and uptake by plants and animals.

Diagram illustrating the nitrogen cycle with labeled boxes and arrows showing the flow of nitrogen through various processes like nitrogen fixation, nitrification, decomposition, and uptake by plants and animals.

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Show Answer Key & Explanations Step-by-step solution for: GCSE Biology: The Nitrogen Cycle
Let's solve this step by step.

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Step 1: Understand the Nitrogen Cycle



The nitrogen cycle is a biogeochemical cycle that describes how nitrogen moves through the atmosphere, soil, and living organisms. Key processes include:

- Nitrogen fixation: Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into ammonia (NH₃) or ammonium (NH₄⁺) by certain bacteria.
- Nitrification: Conversion of ammonium to nitrites (NO₂⁻) and then to nitrates (NO₃⁻) by nitrifying bacteria.
- Assimilation: Plants absorb nitrates via their roots and use them to make amino acids and proteins.
- Consumption (Feeding): Animals eat plants and incorporate nitrogen into their own proteins.
- Ammonification (Decomposition & Death and waste): When organisms die or excrete waste, decomposers break down organic nitrogen into ammonium.
- Denitrification: Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates back into nitrogen gas (N₂), releasing it into the atmosphere.

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Step 2: Label the Numbered Boxes



We are given the following terms to use:
- Denitrifying Bacteria
- Nitrifying Bacteria
- Decomposition
- Death and waste
- Nitrogen Fixation
- Uptake by roots
- Feeding

Now let’s analyze each number:

#### Box 1
- Arrow from "Nitrogen in the air" → to "Bacteria in root nodules"
- This represents Nitrogen Fixation, where bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms.
1 = Nitrogen Fixation

#### Box 2
- Arrow from "Ammonium ions" → to "Nitrate ions", with bacteria involved
- This is nitrification — conversion of ammonium to nitrate by nitrifying bacteria.
2 = Nitrifying Bacteria

#### Box 3
- Arrow from "Nitrate ions" → to plant (flower)
- This is the process where plants absorb nitrates through their roots.
3 = Uptake by roots

#### Box 4
- Arrow from plant → animal (rabbit)
- This is feeding — animals consume plants for nutrients.
4 = Feeding

#### Box 5
- Arrow from rabbit → dead animal (or waste)
- This shows the death and waste of organisms, leading to release of nitrogen compounds.
5 = Death and waste

#### Box 6
- Arrow from dead animal → "Ammonium ions"
- This is decomposition by decomposers breaking down organic matter into ammonium.
6 = Decomposition

#### Box 7
- Arrow from "Nitrate ions" → back to "Nitrogen in the air", with bacteria
- This is denitrification, where denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates back into nitrogen gas.
7 = Denitrifying Bacteria

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Final Answers for the Diagram:



| Box | Label |
|-----|-------|
| 1 | Nitrogen Fixation |
| 2 | Nitrifying Bacteria |
| 3 | Uptake by roots |
| 4 | Feeding |
| 5 | Death and waste |
| 6 | Decomposition |
| 7 | Denitrifying Bacteria |

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Step 3: Fill in the Key Points



We are given words to use:
legumes, nitrate, bacteria, roots, denitrifying, fixing

#### 1. A key type of organism involved in the cycling of nitrogen are bacteria.

Answer: bacteria

#### 2. Nitrogen-______ bacteria are found in the root nodules of ______ and can convert inert nitrogen gas into nitrogen-containing ions.

- Nitrogen-fixing bacteria live in root nodules of legumes (like beans, peas).
- They fix atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia.

Answer: fixing, legumes

#### 3. Nitrifying bacteria can convert ammonium ions to ______ ions, which can be taken up by the ______ of plants.

- Nitrifying bacteria convert ammonium → nitrate.
- Plants take up nitrate via their roots.

Answer: nitrate, roots

#### 4. Some bacteria, found in water-logged soils, convert nitrates back into nitrogen gas, these are known as ______ bacteria.

- These are denitrifying bacteria.

Answer: denitrifying

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Final Answers for Key Points:



1. A key type of organism involved in the cycling of nitrogen are bacteria.
2. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria are found in the root nodules of legumes and can convert inert nitrogen gas into nitrogen-containing ions.
3. Nitrifying bacteria can convert ammonium ions to nitrate ions, which can be taken up by the roots of plants.
4. Some bacteria, found in water-logged soils, convert nitrates back into nitrogen gas, these are known as denitrifying bacteria.

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Summary



Diagram Labels:
- 1: Nitrogen Fixation
- 2: Nitrifying Bacteria
- 3: Uptake by roots
- 4: Feeding
- 5: Death and waste
- 6: Decomposition
- 7: Denitrifying Bacteria

Key Points:
1. bacteria
2. fixing, legumes
3. nitrate, roots
4. denitrifying

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