In nitrate reduction, which molecule serves as an intermediate before forming nitric oxide?

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Multiple Choice

In nitrate reduction, which molecule serves as an intermediate before forming nitric oxide?

Explanation:
In nitrate reduction, the sequence proceeds in steps: nitrate is first reduced to nitrite, and then nitrite is reduced to nitric oxide. Because of this order, the molecule that serves as the intermediate before forming nitric oxide is nitrite. After NO is produced, it can be further reduced to nitrous oxide and eventually to dinitrogen gas. Ammonia relates to a different nitrate-reduction pathway (DNRA) and is not the intermediate that leads to NO.

In nitrate reduction, the sequence proceeds in steps: nitrate is first reduced to nitrite, and then nitrite is reduced to nitric oxide. Because of this order, the molecule that serves as the intermediate before forming nitric oxide is nitrite. After NO is produced, it can be further reduced to nitrous oxide and eventually to dinitrogen gas. Ammonia relates to a different nitrate-reduction pathway (DNRA) and is not the intermediate that leads to NO.

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