Nitrates are made by converting ammonia (NH3) to nitrite (NO2-) and then to nitrate (NO3-). What do you predict the O2 levels in
the river will be? High - Nitrate (NO3-) contains more oxygen atoms than ammonia (NH3), so the O2 will be high. Normal - Even though oxygen atoms are added to nitrogen during the nitrogen cycle, the levels of O2 in the water will be normal. Low - The generation of nitrates (NO3-) requires oxygen, so the oxygen levels will be low.
Low - The generation of nitrates (NO 3-) requires oxygen, so the oxygen levels will be low
Explanation:
Nitrates are formed when the ammonia react with oxygen present in water. The oxygen which react with ammonia is not the oxygen of water molecule, it is the dissolved oxygen. This oxygen is used by aquatic animals for breathing. If nitrates are formed so the concentration of dissolved oxygen will be lowered which causes suffocation and bad impact on marine organisms and the whole ecosystem will be disturbed.
