Fun Facts
_____ brings phosphorus into our waterways.
A) Transpiration
B) Condensation
C) Runoff
D) Precipitation
C) Runoff
What is phosphorus used for in fertilizers?
A) Green color in plants
B) Energy transfer and root growth
C) Pest control
D) Nitrogen supply
B) Energy transfer and root growth
What human activity leads to increased phosphorus runoff?
A) Logging
B) Use of fertilizers
C) Fossil fuel burning
D) Urbanization
B) Use of fertilizers
How does phosphorus return to the soil in ecosystems?
A) Erosion
B) Decomposition of organic matter
C) Nitrogen fixation
D) Photosynthesis
B) Decomposition of organic matter
Where is most of the phosphorus on Earth found?
A) Oceans
B) Rocks and sediments
C) Atmosphere
D) Plants
B) Rocks and sediments
What state of matter is phosphorus naturally found in on Earth?
A) Solid
B) Liquid
C) Gas
D) Plasma
A) Solid
What is one way humans can reduce phosphorus pollution?
A) Stop composting
B) Use more electricity
C) Increase mining
D) Use less fertilizer
D) Use less fertilizer
What practice contributes to phosphorus cycling in agriculture?
A) Crop rotation
B) Composting of organic matter
C) Pesticide spraying
D) Overgrazing
B) Composting of organic matter
How does phosphorus enter aquatic ecosystems?
A) Through volcanic activity
B) Through runoff from land
C) Through photosynthesis
D) Through erosion
B) Through runoff from land
How does phosphorus get released from rocks into the soil?
A) Weathering
B) Photosynthesis
C) Combustion
D) Sedimentation
A) Weathering
How was phosphorus first discovered?
A) By observing ocean water
B) By mining rocks
C) By heating plants
D) By boiling urine
D) By boiling urine
What everyday item sometimes uses phosphorus?
A) Toothpaste
B) Light bulbs
C) Matches
D) Bottled water
C) Matches
What is one problem caused by too much phosphorus in water?
A) Decreased fish populations due to algal blooms
B) Increased oxygen levels in water
C) Cleaner rivers
D) Slower plant growth
A) Decreased fish populations due to algal blooms
Why is phosphorus essential for plants?
A) It is a source of oxygen
B) It is a key component of chlorophyll
C) It helps in energy transfer
D) It fixes nitrogen
C) It helps in energy transfer
What form of phosphorus is absorbed by plants?
A) Phosphide
B) Phosphate (PO₄³⁻)
C) Phosphorous gas
D) None of the above
B) Phosphate (PO₄³⁻)
How old is phosphorus on Earth?
A) 1 billion years
B) 500 million years
C) 4.5 billion years
D) 6 billion years
C) 4.5 billion years
This is released by the weathering of rocks.
A) Nitrogen
B) Carbon
C) Helium
D) Phosphorus
D) Phosphorus
What is one way people unknowingly waste phosphorus?
A) Throwing away food scraps
B) Recycling paper
C) Planting flowers
D) Using solar panels
A) Throwing away food scraps
What natural process cycles phosphorus between land and water?
A) Nitrogen fixation
B) Eutrophication
C) The water cycle
D) The sedimentation process
D) The sedimentation process
Does phosphorus exist as a gas in the atmosphere?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Only during volcanic eruptions
D) At high altitudes
B) No
What dangerous property does white phosphorus have?
A) It is highly flammable and ignites in air
B) It freezes at room temperature
C) It turns into gas when heated
D) It reacts violently with water
A) It is highly flammable and ignites in air
What happens to most phosphorus in wastewater if untreated?
A) It pollutes rivers and lakes
B) It evaporates into the air
C) It turns into energy
D) It is absorbed by rocks
A) It pollutes rivers and lakes
Why is phosphorus recycling important?
A) It reduces the need for mining finite phosphate rocks
B) It helps make water cleaner
C) It speeds up the phosphorus cycle
D) It lowers soil fertility
A) It reduces the need for mining finite phosphate rocks
What is one environmental effect of excessive phosphorus in water?
A) Coral bleaching
B) Eutrophication and algal blooms
C) Water acidification
D) Increased oxygen levels
B) Eutrophication and algal blooms
What is the first step of the phosphorus cycle?
A) Weathering
B) Nitrogen Fixation
C) Denitrification
A) Weathering