nitraattinitriittijärjestelmiä
Nitraattinitriittijärjestelmiä, often referred to as nitrate-nitrite systems, are chemical processes involving both nitrate and nitrite ions. These species are central to various biological and environmental cycles, most notably the nitrogen cycle. In this cycle, nitrate (NO₃⁻) and nitrite (NO₂⁻) are interconverted through microbial denitrification and nitrification processes. Denitrification, carried out by anaerobic bacteria, reduces nitrate and nitrite to nitrogen gas (N₂), which is released into the atmosphere. Nitrification, performed by aerobic bacteria, oxidizes ammonia first to nitrite and then to nitrate.
Beyond their role in the nitrogen cycle, nitrate and nitrite have significant industrial and agricultural applications.
The chemical behavior of nitrate and nitrite ions is characterized by their redox properties. Nitrate is generally