Transition of atmospheric nitrogen to nitrates.

Nitrogen is part of the atmosphere, where it is 78%. This is a rather inert compound. At the same time, nitrates are in the soil in sufficient quantities and are absorbed by plants. During a thunderstorm, conditions are created for the interaction of nitrogen with oxygen: N2 + O2 = 2NO. Nitric oxide (2) immediately reacts with oxygen and forms nitrogen oxide (4): NO + O2 = NO2. This oxide can form nitrate acid – 4NO2 + O2 + 2H2O = 4HNO3. Nitric acid getting into the soil can interact with metal oxides or their salts and form their salts – nitrates.