Most organisms are unable to break down and use atmospheric nitrogen gas because the molecule's two nitrogen atoms are held together by a strong _______ bond.
A) ionic
B) double
C) triple
D) quadruple
E) hydrogen

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Nitrogen gas (N2) has a triple bond between its two nitrogen atoms, which is a very strong bond that requires a substantial amount of energy to break apart. Most organisms are not able to break down this bond, so they cannot use atmospheric nitrogen gas directly. Instead, some organisms have developed specialized enzymes or have formed mutualistic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen gas into a usable form (such as ammonia or nitrate).

Most Organisms Are Unable to Break Down and Use Atmospheric