Stoutman wrote:
I meant to write oxygen's that are removed from NO3- end up as H2O.


It actually goes NO3---NO2----N2 + H2O

No, it doesn't. You are basically arguing that you start out with NO3 and H2O
and it goes

2NO3 & 2H2O ---- 2NO2 & 2H2 ---- 2N01 & 2H2 ---- N2 & 2H2O.

The water molecules are never broken up. They just pass through when the system
is functioning properly. When water molecules do get stripped of their oxygen,
the hydrogen usually combines with sulfur to produce hydrogen sulphide.

George Patterson
Coffee is only a way of stealing time that should by rights belong to
your slightly older self.