A
single atom of nitrogen can have sequential effects in various
parts of the environment after it has been converted from non-reactive
N2 to a reactive form during energy or food production.
There are three groups of reactive nitrogen compounds: inorganic
reduced forms of N: ammonia [NH3] and others forms [NHx], such
as ammonium [NH4+]; inorganic
oxidized forms: nitrogen oxide [NOx], nitrous oxide [N2O], nitrate
[NO3-] and others [NOy]; and organic
compounds: urea, amines, proteins, nucleic acids and others [Norganic]
Source: adapted from Galloway and others 2003 and redrawn
by Robert Smith, Charlottesville, US
inorganic
reduced forms of N: ammonia [NH3] and others forms [NHx], such
as ammonium [NH4+];