Living organisms can incorporate nitrates into their metabolism primarily through the process of nitrogen assimilation. Nitrates (NO3-) are a form of nitrogen that plants, for example, can absorb from the soil and then convert into amino acids and other organic molecules essential for their growth and development.
On the other hand, nitrites (NO2-) are generally a less stable and often intermediate form of nitrogen in the nitrogen cycle. While some organisms can utilize nitrites, they are not as commonly absorbed and utilized directly by most plants or organisms. Instead, nitrites are usually converted into nitrates before being incorporated into metabolic processes.
In summary, nitrates are the more common and readily usable form of nitrogen for many living organisms, making the incorporation of nitrates into metabolism the correct choice.