Thread: Products of decomposers

Can anyone please explain this question to me:

The activity of decomposers returns sustrances to the atmosphere.
Which products of decomposition enter the atmosphere?
A) carbon dioxide and nitrogen
B) carbon dioxide and water
C) oxygen and nitrogen
D) oxygen and water

The answer should be B, but why? don't decomposers produce nitrogen? and how does it produce CO2 and H2O, it there like a chemical formula for this?

TIA

Decomposers are the organisms which, for example, make leaves and dead bodies decompose. What do these contain? They contain mainly carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, together with proteins (which contain nitrogen) and other substances such as calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, potassium, etc (minerals).

Minerals get into the soil, while proteins are converted to ammonia by decomposers then to nitrites then nitrates by nitrogenous bacteria (not decomposers). The decomposers basically feed on the dead matter and respire in doing so. Hence you get carbon dioxide and water.

Also, denitrifying bacteria lastly converts excess nitrates to nitrogen gas.

Originally Posted by Unknown008

Decomposers are the organisms which, for example, make leaves and dead bodies decompose. What do these contain? They contain mainly carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, together with proteins (which contain nitrogen) and other substances such as calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, potassium, etc (minerals).

Minerals get into the soil, while proteins are converted to ammonia by decomposers then to nitrites then nitrates by nitrogenous bacteria (not decomposers). The decomposers basically feed on the dead matter and respire in doing so. Hence you get carbon dioxide and water.

Also, denitrifying bacteria lastly converts excess nitrates to nitrogen gas.

Thanks
I really appreciate all your help :-)