Biochemical cycles

Question 1

Where can carbon be found?

Answer 1

Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Lithosphere

Question 2

What are the main processes in the carbon cycle?

Answer 2

Photosynthesis, Respiration, Food webs, Fossilisation, Combustion

Question 3

How can human factors affect the carbon cycle?

Answer 3

Changes in:
Photosynthesis
Aerobic respiration
Anaerobic respiration
Carbonic acid concentration in the sea
Biomass movements

Question 4

What changes in photosynthesis affect the carbon cycle?

Answer 4

Deforestation, Afforestation, Marine pollution

Question 5

What changes in aerobic respiration affect the carbon cycle?

Answer 5

Release of carbon from organic matter

Ploughing - speeds up aerobic respiration

Question 6

What changes in anaerobic respiration affect the carbon cycle?

Answer 6

Human activities e.g. padi fields, landfill sites

Anaerobic environments destroyed by drainage e.g. marshlands/waterlogged fields

Question 7

What changes in the carbonic acid concentration in the sea affect the carbon cycle?

Answer 7

Human activities that increase CO2 concentration

Question 8

What changes in biomass movements affect the carbon cycle?

Answer 8

Human activities which produce local change e.g.
Deforestation
Sewage discharge
Addition of compost/mulch to improve soil fertility

Question 9

How can you conserve carbon stores?

Answer 9

Protecting peat bogs and forests

Question 10

What is carbon sequestration?

Answer 10

large scale tree planting

Question 11

What does CCS invlove?

Answer 11

Carbon capture and storage involves capturing carbon so it isn’t released into the atmosphere

Question 12

What can be done with pre-combustion technology?

Answer 12

changing fuel or way it is combusted

Question 13

What can be done with post-combustion technology?

Answer 13

removing it from exhaust gases

storing it

Question 14

Where can nitrogen be found?

Answer 14

Atmosphere, Biosphere, Lithosphere, Hydrosphere

Question 15

What are the main processes in the nitrogen cycle?

Answer 15

Ionisation - Fixation - Food Chains - Nitrification - Denitrification - Leaching - Root absorption - Ammonification

Question 16

What is the Haber process

Answer 16

industrial process or producing ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen

Question 17

Where is nitrogen found in agriculture?

Answer 17

Fertilisers, Drainage, ploughing, Leguminous

Question 18

4 factors that can be controlled to provide sustainable management of the nitrogen cycle

Answer 18

Control of combustion processes and NOx releases and management of soil processes and biological wastes

Question 19

What are the main processes in the phosphorus cycle

Answer 19

Absorption by roots - Decomposition - Sedimentation - Moutain building and weathering

Question 20

2 human impacts on the phosphorus cycle

Answer 20

mining of phosphate rocks and fertiliser use

Question 21

5 ways sustainable management of the phosphorus cycle can be achieved

Answer 21

crop breeding programmes
using biological wastes as fertilisers 
Maintaining future supplies of phosphate
not removing biomass during harvesting
Phosphate shortage is the limiting factor on crop productivity