Nitrifying bacteria are able to

Options

A. convert atmospheric nitrogen into soluble forms
B. convert ammonia to nitrate
C. ammonia to nitrogen
D. nitrate to nitrogen

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Nitrifying Bacteria**: Nitrifying bacteria are a group of bacteria that play a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle. They are responsible for converting ammonia into nitrites and then into nitrates, which are forms of nitrogen that plants can utilize.

2. **Identifying the Process**: The process carried out by nitrifying bacteria is known as nitrification. This process occurs in two main steps:
- **Step 1**: Ammonia (NH₃) is oxidized to nitrite (NO₂⁻) by specific bacteria.
- **Step 2**: Nitrite (NO₂⁻) is further oxidized to nitrate (NO₃⁻) by other nitrifying bacteria.

3. **Key Bacteria Involved**:
- The first step involves bacteria such as **Nitrosomonas**, which convert ammonia to nitrite.
- The second step involves bacteria such as **Nitrobacter**, which convert nitrite to nitrate.

4. **Evaluating the Options**: Given the options:
- Convert nitriles atmospheric nitrogen into soluble form
- Convert ammonia to nitrate
- Ammonia to nitrogen
- Nitrate to nitrogen

The correct answer is the second option: **Convert ammonia to nitrate**. This is because nitrifying bacteria specifically facilitate the conversion of ammonia into nitrite and then into nitrate.

5. **Conclusion**: Therefore, nitrifying bacteria are primarily responsible for converting ammonia to nitrate, making it available for plant uptake.