Cycles of Matter Flashcards
(19 cards)
Describe the Hydrological Cycle
This cycle involves all the phases of water, allowing water to cycle across the globe.
Step one: EVAPORATION/TRANSPIRATION
- Water in lakes/ponds/oceans is heated up by the sun and turned into a gas through evaporation.
Step two:
CONDENSATION
- The water vapor in the air cools down and condenses in the clouds.
Step three:
PRECIPITATION
- Water becomes too heavy for the clouds to hold them so they fall from the clouds and return to the ground as rain/hail/snow.
Step four:
COLLECTION/RUNOFF
- Water re-enters the lakes/ponds/oceans.
REPEAT!
Universal Solvent
Water molecules have a high polarity, as they are polar molecules. Since water has so many hydrogen bonds, these bonds allow water to dissolve pretty much any substance.
Types of Hydrogen Bonding
- Density
- When water is frozen/cool, the HB loosen causing the water to be less dense.
- When water heats up, the HB tighten, causing the water to have a higher density. - Cohesion
- Since water molecules are polar, they attract to one another. Causing surface tension. (water beading or insects walking on water) - Adhesion
- adhesion provides an upward force on water, causing it to act against gravity. (inner surface of a glass tube, or the cell wall of a tree)
ex. when cohesion and adhesion work together to transport water up plants, its called transpiration.
Greenhouse effect and water
When water is short, due to extreme heat/drought, plants respond by closing their stomata, which prevents intake of CO2, which slows down the process of photosynthesis.
Greenhouse cycle
Our population continues to grow, which increases the CO2 being produced by emissions from cars, etc.
- GHG/CO2 build up in the atmosphere
- earths climate will begin to warm
- because of the temperature of the earth, water will not be as available due to evaporation.
- Plants close their stomata to reduce water loss.
- Activities are lower (less CO2 intake)
Acid Deposition
Since industrial plants burn so many metals and fossil fuels, sulfur is released into the air in the form of sulfur dioxide.
- Some industrial plants release nitrogen wastes and release (nitrous oxides)
Acid rain
Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrous Oxides can sometimes condense with water vapor (gas) and form droplets of acid…..acid rain!
- Some will stay in the air to circulate and eventually fall to the ground as dry acid deposition.
This is overall dangerous for our living organisms on earth. Acid rain can kill fish/plants/soil/and aquatic life.
Describe The Carbon Cycle
First, Carbon is released from industrial sites that burn fossil fuels. As the carbon flows in the atmosphere, it turns into CO2.
Secondly, the process of photosynthesis allows CO2 to transfer into the glucose of the plants.
Next, consumers/living organisms feed off these plants, as well as high level consumers which eat the primary consumers (herbivores), therefore they are ALSO intaking CO2.
Next, these living organisms release CO2 into the soil/earth by decomposition. Whether its their bodies being decomposed or their excretion, they all contain CO2 and are releasing it into the soil.
Next, The organisms that didn’t get decomposed, they will get fossilized into the from of coal or oil. This coal/oil is used for combustion in industrial factories.
Lastly, there is carbon that has been trapped in these factories and finally gets to be released into the atmosphere and forms into CO2 and the process begins once again.
Slow cycling
When carbon accumulates/builds up and is stored in factories/reservoirs for a long period of time, this carbon becomes unavailable to organisms UNITL its release into the atmosphere. This is referred to as slow cycling.
Rapid Cycling
When carbon moves from producer to consumer to decomposer. and back through the atmosphere, this type f cycling is called rapid cycling.
What does photosynthesis do?
Photosynthesis converts energy from the sun (radiant energy) into chemical energy. Which in this case produces glucose and oxygen.
- oxygen is released into the air by the plant
- glucose is used by the plant for GROWTH
What does cellular respiration do?
Cellular respiration allows sugar to be broken down and turned into energy/ATP. Its purpose if to provides cells with energy they need to function… and BREATHING.
What does combustion do?
Combustion releases energy from molecules for function. Carbon combines with oxygen from the air to produce CO2.
Human acitivies/impact
- burning fossil fuels
- cutting down forests/carbon sink
- more accumulation of CO2
- Enhanced greenhouse effect
greenhouse effect
- increased warmth in atmosphere, and heat blocks gases.
Carbon Sink
- any site where it intakes more carbon than it releases.
- accumulation/buildup of CARBON
Describe the sulfur Cycle
- Sulfur is released into the air by volcanic activity/geo-lift/mining/burning fossil fuels, as sulfur dioxide.
- Sulfates return to the earth through ACID precipitation(caused by burning fossil fuels).
- The bacteria in the soil allow sulfates to be used up by plants. Keep in mind the sulfur compounds can return back into the soil once the plants die and decompose.
- Some of the sulfur returns to the ground and will be re-deposited in the form of rocks….CONTINUE.
Describe the Nitrogen Cycle
Step One: Nitrogen Fixation
- Nitrogen gas is converted into ammonia ( N2 to NH3)
TWO WAYS
a) Nitrogen fixing bacteria - Located in the root nodules(legumes/peas/etc.)
b) Lightening - lightening can force nitrogen and oxygen together. Producing nitrites.
Step Two: Nitrification
- This step is when ammonia is converted into nitrites, in which plants can absorb.
Step Three: Assimilation
- Nitrates enter plants through the roots, then consumers eat the plants as they obtain nitrogen.
Step Four: Ammonification
- Decomposers convert the nitrogen from the tissues. into ammonia.
Step Five: Denitrification
- This last process removes nitrogen from ecosystems as NITRITES and NITRATES. Converting it back into atmospheric nitrogen.
Describe the Phosphorus Cycle
Overtime, rain and weathering can cause rocks to RELEASE phosphate ions and minerals. The phosphate is then distributed into soils and water.
Plants will take up phosphate from the soil. Plants could be consumed by animals, which when the phosphate is consumed, when the plant/animal dies, it decays and the organic phosphate is returned into the soil
In the soil, phosphate can be made available to plants by bacteria that break down organic matter into the forms of phosphorus. (MINERALIZATION)
Phosphorus in the soil can ALSO end up in waterways and eventually oceans, and once there can be incorporated into sediments overtime.
