The conversion of ammonium salts into nitrates is called_______

The conversion of ammonium salts into nitrates is called nitrification. Nitrification is a process in the nitrogen cycle in which ammonia (NH3) is oxidized to nitrite (NO2-) and then to nitrate (NO3-) by bacteria. This process occurs in soil, water, and wastewater treatment plants, where bacteria play a crucial role in converting ammonium ions (NH4+) into nitrates (NO3-), which can be used by plants as a source of nitrogen. The first step in nitrification is the conversion of ammonium ions into nitrite ions by bacteria called Nitrosomonas. The second step is the conversion of nitrite ions into nitrate ions by bacteria called Nitrobacter. This process releases energy that the bacteria use for their metabolism. Nitrification is important because it provides a source of nitrogen for plants and other organisms that cannot fix nitrogen from the air. It also helps to reduce the amount of ammonium ions in the soil, which can be toxic to plants at high concentrations. The process of nitrification is also a key step in the removal of nitrogen from wastewater treatment plants before it is discharged into the environment.