Properties of Water
Which property of water allows water striders to "walk on water"?
Surface tension
Which energy source powers the water cycle?
The sun
Name a process that RELEASES carbon into the atmosphere.
Cellular respiration, burning fossil fuels, decomposition
Where is most of Earth’s nitrogen stored?
The atmosphere
How do people get the majority of phosphorus they need to live?
From eating producers or other consumers
Which is the only biogeochemical cycle without an atmospheric component?
Phosphorus Cycle
What kind of bond is shared between two water molecules?
Hydrogen bond
What is another name for the water cycle?
Hydrologic cycle
Name a process that directly REMOVES carbon from the atmosphere.
Photosynthesis, storing in a carbon sink (water)
What are the 2 forms of nitrogen a plant can use?
Nitrates (NO31-) and Ammonium (NH41+)
Where is most of Earth's phosphorus stored?
Sediments / Sedimentary rock
Which law states that new matter is never created?
Law of conservation of matter
Why is ice being less dense than water important to aquatic ecosystems?
The ice floats on top, insulating the rest of the water and preventing it from freezing solid.
Where is most of Earth's freshwater stored?
Ice caps and glaciers
What is the largest carbon reservoir on Earth?
The ocean
What are 2 ways nitrogen fixation can take place?
Lightning and nitrogen-fixing bacteria
What form is most phosphorus found in?
Phosphates (PO43-)
What is eutrophication?
The overgrowth of algae due to excess nitrate and phosphate being added into an aquatic environment. (Can lead to hypoxia)
On the pH scale, what is considered acidic? (Range is 1-14)
Lower than 7
What is the name of the structure that holds groundwater?
Aquifer
How are fossil fuels formed?
High pressure and heat over the course of millions of years
During denitrification, _____ is converted into _____.
Nitrate (NO31-) ; Nitrogen gas (N2)
______ is a process that occurs gradually over time where rocks and minerals are broken down into smaller particles by physical or chemical means.
Weathering
What type of resource is freshwater considered?
A renewable resource--recycles through the water cycle continuously
Explain what makes a water molecule polar.
Hydrogen atoms have partial positive charges, oxygen has a partial negative charge
Describe the journey of a water molecule in a leaf to a water molecule in the rain.
Transpiration --> Condensation --> Precipitation
How does burning fossil fuels impact the greenhouse effect?
It releases ancient carbon back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide and methane, amplifying the greenhouse effect.
During nitrogen fixation, _____ is converted into _____.
N2 (nitrogen gas) ; Ammonium (NH4)
Which process returns phosphates back into the geosphere?
Sedimentation
What human actions can lead to acid rain?