Question 39 of 39
Q.Calculate the amount of ATP required by nitrogen fixer for the formation of 1000 molecules of ammonia. Name the specialised cell of cyanobacteria where nitrogen is fixed.
Maharashtra MsbshseMaharashtra HSC (MSBSHSE) Board 2026Subjective· 2mImportance★★★★★
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Nitrogen fixation needs 8 ATP per NH3 formed (so 8000 ATP for 1000 NH3), occurring inside the heterocysts of cyanobacteria.
Biological nitrogen fixation, catalysed by the enzyme complex nitrogenase, converts atmospheric nitrogen gas (N2) into ammonia (NH3) according to the overall reaction: N2 + 8H+ + 8e- + 16 ATP → 2NH3 + H2 + 16 ADP + 16 Pi. This shows that reducing one molecule of N2 to two molecules of NH3 consumes 16 ATP, meaning 8 ATP molecules are utilized per molecule of ammonia produced. Therefore, to form 1000 molecules of ammonia, the amount of ATP required = 8 × 1000 = 8000 ATP molecules. …
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