Oxygen Cycle
What are 2 common forms of oxygen that humans interact with on a daily basis?
ANY 2:
O2 is necessary for respiration; and H2O is necessary for hydration; O3 is necessary for protection against harmful radiation; Also in carbohydrates (C6H12O6)
True Or False: (if false, correct it)
Carbon is found in all organic material on earth?
True
What percent of dry air is nitrogen gas?
75-78%
What are the 4 forms of Nitrogen that natural microorganisms convert?
Nitrogen gas (N2),
Ammonia (NH3),
Nitrites (NO-2)
Nitrates (NO-3)
What 2 scientists are credited for creating this process?
Fritz Haber & Carl Bosch
What is the most important process in the oxygen cycle for converting CO2 back into O2
Photosynthesis
List 2 Materials that carbon can be found in
ANY 2:
Limestone (All other Carbonates), Graphite, Coal, Carbohydrates, Diamonds, CO2, CO, Organic material/living things.
List 2 uses of ammonia (NH3)
ANY 2:
Cleaning Products, Fertilizers, Odor Neutralizer, Water Treatment
Define Nitrogen Fixation
The process in which bacteria in soil convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into Ammonia (NH3)
What is the Haber-Bosch Process?
The first practical way to industrially convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3)
How does sea life consume oxygen if they are underwater all of the time? What do they use this oxygen for?
They consume it from O2 that has dissolved into the water. They use the oxygen for respiration and the production of shells.
List Any example of carbon changing reservoir
ANY 1:
Photosynthesis: Plants take in CO2 & convert it into carbohydrates (C6H12O6). The plants then release O2 back into the atmosphere.
Living things: animals eat the plants for carb energy, then after respiration they release CO2
Water: Dissolves CO2
Sea-life: Some CO2 in the water is converted into carbonate ions that creatures use to build shells.
Sediment: Some carbon containing material sinks to the bottom of the ocean and is incorporated into sediments.
Rock Cycle: Carbon containing sediments get subducted and heated, then spewed into the air in a molten state and is then hardened into rock.
Fossil fuels: When living things die they are buried and de-compose underground.
Factories: Fossil duels get burned by humans for energy, this releases CO2 into the atmosphere as a bi-product.
True or False: (if false, correct it)
Nitrogen is necessary in the formation of Carbohydrates
False; Nitrogen is not needed in the formation of Carbohydrates (C6H12O6), But it is necessary in the formation of Amino acids/Proteins which humans need to survive.
Define Nitrification
The process in which more bacteria converted Ammonia (NH) into Nitrites (NO-2) and then further into Nitrates (NO-3)
Why is the Haber-Bosch Process considered bad for the environment?
It throws off the natural balance of nitrogen. The artificial input creates a surplus of usable nitrogen, causing environmental issues like waterway eutrophication (over-enrichment of waterways with nutrients).
How does the oxygen cycle interact with the lithosphere? How does oxygen cycle through this sphere?
Oxygen can be stored in rocks or sediment. Through weathering the oxygen can be released back into the atmosphere.
How does solar energy drive the carbon cycle?
Solar energy is mandatory for carbon to change cycle, as the sun directly or indirectly powers photosynthesis and respiration.
(Internal energy of the earth is a less important source but still powers subduction and the rock cycle which allows carbon to escape the lithosphere)
DNA is an important part of the human body and Nitrogen is a part of DNA. What is the role of nitrogen in the formation of DNA? How do we get this nitrogen in our bodies?
Nitrogen is necessary in the structure of DNA and is what holds it together. We get nitrogen from the usable nitrogen in plant material.
When plant consumers die, they de-compose and ammonia (NH3) is returned to the ground
How does the Haber-Bosch Process affect the Carbon and Oxygen Cycles when it primarily has to do with Nitrogen?
Carbon Cycle: The process requires carbon monoxide (CO) as a byproduct, which is converted to carbon dioxide (CO₂) during the reaction.
Oxygen Cycle: Waterway eutrophication can create harmful algae blooms that use of oxygen in water. This can kill all lifeforms living in the water.
Why is all of the Oxygen on earth considered to be part of a cycle?
Because there is a set number of oxygen that is continually being used by living things, so oxygen has to be being converted day after day or else it would all be trapped in one reservoir.
Why is all of the Carbon on earth considered to be part of a cycle?
Because all of the Carbon on earth is constantly moving from one reservoir to the next, and without this constant change it would all be trapped in one place and the living things that need it would die.
Why is all of the Nitrogen on earth considered to be part of a cycle?
Because all of the Nitrogen on earth is constantly moving from one reservoir to the next, and without this constant change it would all be trapped in one place and the living things that need it would die, as Nitrogen is necessary for our survival.
Define Denitrification
Microorganisms convert ammonia (NH3) and nitrates (NO-3) back into atmospheric nitrogen (N2) and releases it back into the atmosphere.
How has the Haber-Bosch process has affected the natural nitrogen cycle?
It has significantly altered the natural nitrogen cycle by introducing a large amount of reactive nitrogen into the environment.