Chemolithotrophy is the oxidation of inorganic chemicals for the generation of energy. The process can use oxidative phosphorylation, just like aerobic and anaerobic respiration, but now the substance...Chemolithotrophy is the oxidation of inorganic chemicals for the generation of energy. The process can use oxidative phosphorylation, just like aerobic and anaerobic respiration, but now the substance being oxidized (the electron donor) is an inorganic compound. The nitrogen cycle depicts the different ways in which nitrogen, an essential element for life, is used and converted by organisms for various purposes.