What is the chemical process associated with converting organic matter to ammonium?

The correct answer is the process known as ammonification. This chemical process involves the conversion of organic nitrogen found in decomposing plant and animal matter into ammonium. During ammonification, microorganisms break down the nitrogen-containing compounds in organic matter, such as proteins and nucleic acids, releasing ammonium as a product.

This process is a crucial part of the nitrogen cycle, as it essentially transforms organic forms of nitrogen into an inorganic form that plants can readily uptake for their growth and development. Ammonification occurs primarily during the decomposition of organic material, making it vital for nutrient recycling in ecosystems.

Nitrification, while related, specifically refers to the subsequent process where ammonium is converted to nitrites and then to nitrates by specific bacteria, which is not what the question is addressing. Denitrification involves the conversion of nitrates back into nitrogen gas, effectively removing nitrogen from the soil, and immobilization refers to the process where nutrients are made unavailable to plants due to being taken up by microorganisms. Thus, while all these processes are important in the nitrogen cycle, ammonification specifically pertains to the initial conversion of organic matter into ammonium.