nitrification

/,naitrifi'keiʃn/

Thân thiện

The gardener understands that nitrification enriches the soil.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The biological oxidation of ammonium compounds into nitrates and nitrites: This is a natural process performed by specific bacteria in soil or water, converting ammonia (from decomposing organic matter) into forms of nitrogen that plants can absorb and use for growth.
   • The chemical introduction of a nitro group into an organic compound: This is an industrial or laboratory chemical process where a nitro group (-NO₂) is added to a molecule, often altering its properties significantly.

Usage and Examples

• Biological Process:

  • Soil health depends on the nitrification of ammonia by bacteria.
  • The nitrification process is a crucial step in the nitrogen cycle, making nitrogen available to crops.

• Chemical Process:

  • The nitrification of benzene is a key reaction in producing certain explosives and dyes.
  • Researchers studied the nitrification of the compound to enhance its reactivity.

Advanced Usage

• "Inhibit nitrification": To slow down or stop the biological process, often using chemicals in agriculture to control nitrogen release.

  • Farmers may use inhibitors to slow nitrification and reduce fertilizer loss.

• "Catalytic nitrification": Refers to the chemical process being sped up by a catalyst.

  • The new method involves catalytic nitrification for higher yields.

Variants and Related Words

• Nitrify (verb): To undergo or cause nitrification.

  • Certain bacteria nitrify ammonia in the soil.

• Nitrifier (noun): An organism or agent that causes nitrification.

  • Nitrifying bacteria are the primary nitrifiers in the ecosystem.

• Denitrification (noun): The opposite microbial process, converting nitrates back into nitrogen gas.

• Nitrate (noun): The end product (NO₃⁻) of biological nitrification.
• Nitro group (noun): The -NO₂ group added during chemical nitrification.

Synonyms

• For the biological process: Nitrogen oxidation, ammonification (specifically the subsequent step).
• For the chemical process: Nitro-group introduction, nitro-substitution.

Related Phrases and Compounds

• Nitrification inhibitor: A substance that slows down the biological nitrification process.
• Nitrifying bacteria: The microorganisms, such as and , that carry out the biological process.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the oxidation of ammonium compounds in dead organic material into nitrates and nitrites by soil bacteria (making nitrogen available to plants)
2. the chemical process in which a nitro group is added to an organic compound (or substituted for another group in an organic compound)