The result may appear surprising, but ammonia is an indispensable raw material for nitrogen fertilizer. In addition to fertilizer, nitrogen derived from ammonia is used in medicines, nylon, clothing and a wide range of industrial products. Around 80% of Earth's atmosphere consists of nitrogen gas, yet most living organisms cannot use it directly. Although they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis, they cannot generally take nitrogen gas directly from the atmosphere. Plants absorb nitrogen supplied through ammonia fertilizer.