Chapter 11 - Biosphere And Carbon Cycle

Question 1

What is the biosphere? /4

Answer 1

Layer around the Earth containing all living organisms

Corresponds to an entire system of living organisms and their habitats

Includes: (since they are essential for life)
Lithosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere

Chemical elements essential to life are constantly circulating within the biosphere

Question 2

What are biogeochemical cycles? /3

Answer 2

Set of processes by which an element passes from one environment to the next

Eventually return to its original environment

An infinite loop of recycling

Question 3

What are important elements in the biogeochemical cycles? Where are they found? /2(10)

Answer 3

Carbon
Hydrogen
Sulphur
Phosphorus 
Oxygen
Nitrogen

Found in:
Soil
Rocks
Greenhouse gases
Plant & animal tissues

Question 4

How do the biogeochemical cycles proceed? /3(10)

Answer 4

Biological: respiration, digestion

Geological: Rock, erosion, sedimentation

Chemical: combustion, synthesis

Question 5

What is the description of Carbon in the biosphere? /2

Answer 5

Present in all known life forms and organic compounds

2nd most abundant element in the body (cellular respiration)

Question 6

What is the description of Oxygen in the biosphere? /2

Answer 6

Breathing all structural molecules in living organism that contain oxygen:
Bones
Teeth

Most abundant element of the body

Question 7

What is the description of Hydrogen in the biosphere? /3

Answer 7

Most abundant element in the UNIVERSE

Part of the water molecule

Part of many compounds

Question 8

What is the carbon cycle? /2

Answer 8

The biogeochemical cycle involving all the exchanges of carbon on Earth

Carbon atoms being constantly exchanged between:
Living organisms
Dead organisms
Atmosphere
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere

Question 9

What are the biological aspects of the carbon cycle?

Answer 9

Photosynthesis
Cellular respiration 
Ingestion
Decomposition
Forest fires

Question 10

What are the geological aspects of the carbon cycle?

Answer 10

Shells and skeletons
Carbonate Rock
Volcanic eruptions
Fossil fuels

Question 11

What is the relationship between plants and the atmosphere? Explain/describe it /4

Answer 11

Photosynthesis

1) Plants use sunlight to intake carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, along with water found in the lithosphere
2) The CO2 becomes glucose
3) Oxygen is release into the atmosphere

Question 12

What is the chemical equation of photosynthesis?

Answer 12

6CO2+6H2O+SUNLIGHT = C6H12O6+6O2

Question 13

What is the relationship between animals and the atmosphere? Explain/describe it. /4

Answer 13

Cellular respiration

When living organisms breathe, part of the carbon they ingested is released back into the atmosphere

1) Cells in living organisms use oxygen and glucose to make energy (ATP)
2) My making energy, carbon dioxide is released back into the atmosphere.

Question 14

What is the chemical equation of cellular respiration?

Answer 14

C6H12O6+6O2 = 6CO2+6H2O+ ENERGY (ATP)

Question 15

What is the relationship between living organisms and plants/animals? Explain/ describe it /2

Answer 15

Ingestion

Animals take in carbon by eating plants (herbivores) and/or other animals (carnivores/omnivores)

Question 16

What is the relationship between waste and the atmosphere? Explain/describe it. /3

Answer 16

Decomposition

1) Carbon can be found in the elimination of waste (feces, urine, dead organisms)
2) Organisms called decomposers, decompose the waste releasing CO2 and CH4 into the atmosphere

Question 17

What is the relationship between forests and the atmosphere? Explain/ describe it. /4

Answer 17

Forest fires.

1) Carbon can be found in the trunk and leaves of a tree
2) When combustion occurs (the fire), the carbon is converted into carbon dioxide [ Carbon + oxygen = carbon dioxide]
3) Less photosynthesis can occur due to less trees, so MORE CO2 in the atmosphere

Question 18

What are the relationships between the atmosphere and the hydrosphere? /2

Answer 18

Water and marine shells

Carbonate Rock

Question 19

Describe the relationship between shells & skeletons and the atmosphere? /4

Answer 19

1) Carbon dioxide can be absorbed into bodies of water and from carbonic acid
2) Later that carbonic acid breaks down into bicarbonate
3) The bicarbonate can react with Ca 2+ in the water to form calcium carbonate
4) This results in the production of shells and corals

Question 20

What is carbonate rock? /2

Answer 20

Shells and skeletons that fall to the ocean floor and accumulate in the sediment

1) Carbonate rock is subject to tectonic movement and be brought back to the surface

Question 21

What is the relationship between carbonate rock and volcanic eruptions?/2

Answer 21

Some carbonate rocks can melt at the contact of magma

Part of the carbon in the carbonate rock can be released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide through volcanic eruptions

Question 22

What is the relationship between carbonate rock and fossil fuels? /3

Answer 22

Organisms that fall to the ocean floor can be buried in the sediment

The carbon can sometimes change into fossil fuels after a process that takes hundreds of millions of years

Fossil fuels:
Oil
Coal

Question 23

What does carbon dioxide become once absorbed into the ocean?

Answer 23

Carbonic acid

Bicarbonate

Calcium carbonate

Carbonate rock

Shells and skeletons

Question 24

What is the equation for carbonic acid?

Answer 24

CO2 + H2O —> H2CO3

Question 25

What is the equation for bicarbonate?

Answer 25

H2CO3 —> H+ + HCO3-

Question 26

What is the equation for calcium carbonate?

Answer 26

Ca+ + 2HCO3- —> CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O