Question

if an atom of nitrogen is not in a living organism, where is it? not in existence anywhere else in the universe stored deep beneath the earths surface in its core thrown away in a landfill on the surface of the earth in the nonliving portion of the environment

Explanation:

Nitrogen atoms cycle through the environment. If not in a living organism, they are in the non - living part of the environment. The Earth's core mainly has iron and nickel, not nitrogen. Nitrogen is abundant in the atmosphere (as \(N_2\)) which is part of the non - living environment. Landfills have organic matter decomposition but nitrogen is also in soil (as nitrates etc.) which is non - living. And nitrogen is not non - existent in the universe.

Answer:

In the non - living portion of the environment.