The correct description that most accurately captures the path of a nitrogen molecule through the environment is:
- It cycles through the environment repeatedly, but not necessarily in the same order.
Explanation:
1. Nitrogen molecules are part of the nitrogen cycle, a process where nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms such as nitrogen gas (N2), ammonia (NH3), nitrites (NO2-), and nitrates (NO3-).
2. Nitrogen enters the environment primarily through nitrogen fixation, where nitrogen gas in the atmosphere is converted into ammonia by bacteria, and through atmospheric deposition.
3. Once in the environment, nitrogen is taken up by plants through their roots in the form of nitrates and ammonia.
4. Animals then consume these plants and incorporate nitrogen into their own tissues through the food chain.
5. Nitrogen is returned to the environment through processes like decomposition, denitrification, and excretion by organisms.
6. These nitrogen-containing compounds are eventually broken down by bacteria into nitrogen gas, which is released back into the atmosphere, thus completing the cycle.
In summary, nitrogen molecules cycle through the environment repeatedly, moving through various organisms and processes, but not necessarily in the same order each time.
