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AP Bio > 37.21 Nitrogen Cycle > Flashcards

37.21 Nitrogen Cycle Flashcards

1
Q

How is Nitrogen Cycle cycled

A

nitrogen gas

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2
Q

Chemical formula of nitrogen gas

A

N2

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3
Q

What is nitrogen a limiting factor of

A

plants

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4
Q

What molecules are nitrogen important ingredients of

A

proteins and nucleic acids

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5
Q

How many abiotic reservoirs does nitrogen have

A

2

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6
Q

What are the 2 abiotic reservoirs of nitrogen

A

the atmosphere and soil

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7
Q

Is nitrogen cycled globally or locally

A

both because its abiotic reservoirs are soil and the atmosphere

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8
Q

How much of the atmosphere is nitrogen

A

80%

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9
Q

Can plants absorb nitrogen in its N2 form

A

no

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10
Q

Nitrogen Fixation

A

the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) to nitrogen compounds (NH4+ and NO3-) that plants can absorb and use

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11
Q

What organism does nitrogen fixation

A

bacteria

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12
Q

Can animals use N2 in its N2 form

A

no

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13
Q

What kind of atom is N2

A

a diatomic atom

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14
Q

Diatomic Atom

A

an atom that always pairs with at least itself and is never found alone

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15
Q

How many steps does the nitrogen cycle have

A

8

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16
Q

What is the first step of the nitrogen cycle

A

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria that live symbiotically in the root nodules of some species of plants supply their hosts with a usable source of nitrogen

17
Q

Legumes

A

the largest group of plants that has this mutualistic relationship with bacteria which supplies them with a usable source of nitrogen

18
Q

What is the second step of the nitrogen cycle

A

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria converts N2 to ammonia, which then picks up another H+ to become ammonium .

19
Q

Chemical formula of ammonia

A

NH3

20
Q

Chemical formula of ammonium

A

NH4+

21
Q

What is the third step of the nitrogen cycle

A

Nitrifying bacteria in the soil convert some of the NH4+ to nitrites and then into nitrates which is more easily usable by plants

22
Q

What form of nitrogen is usable by plants

A

nitrates

23
Q

Chemical Formula for nitrates

A

NO3-

24
Q

Chemical Formula for nitrites

A

NO2-

25
Q

Are nitrites usable by plants

A

no

26
Q

What is the 4th step of the nitrogen cycle

A

Plants use the nitrate to synthesize molecules such as amino acids, which make proteins and nucleic acids which make nucleotides

27
Q

What is the 5th step of the nitrogen cycle

A

Herbivores eat plants and digest the proteins to build the protein it needs
Carnivores and omnivores gain nitrogen from their prey and do the same thing as the herbivores

28
Q

Despite the losing of nitrogen in step 5 what else happens?

A

Nitrogen containing waste products are also made during metabolism

29
Q

Where is nitrogen-fixing bacteria found

A

in soil, lagoons, and bean plants

30
Q

What is the 6th step of the nitrogen cycle

A

Organisms that are not consumed eventually die and become detritus which is decomposed by prokaryotes and fungi. Decomposition releases NH4+ from organic compounds back into the soil, replenishing the soil reservoir of NH4+

31
Q

What happens to the NH4+ created during decomposition after it goes back into the soil

A

it goes back to the nitrogen fixing bacteria and nitrifying bacteria (Goes back into the cycle that was earlier in the nitrogen cycle)

32
Q

What is the last step of the nitrogen cycle

A

Denitrifying Bacteria strip the oxygen from NO3-, releasing N2 back into the atmosphere in low oxygen conditions

33
Q

What is dentrifying bacteria aka

A

Dentrifiers

34
Q

What is the cycle of how nitrogen cycles chemically

A

N2 –> NH3 –> (NH4+) –> (N02-) –> (NO3-) –> (NH4+) –> (NO2-) –> (NO3-) –> Ns

35
Q

How do human activities also disrupt the nitrogen cycle

A

by adding more nitrogen than what is added by natural processes by combustion of fossil fuels and coal power plants which produce nitrogen oxides

36
Q

Nitrogen Oxides

A

NO and N2

37
Q

Outside of the nitrogen cycle how are some NH4+ and NO3-

A

in the atmosphere by chemical reactions including N2 and ammonia

AP Bio (68 decks)

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