Chapter 11 - Biosphere And Carbon Cycle Flashcards
What is the biosphere? /4
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
What are biogeochemical cycles? /3
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
What are important elements in the biogeochemical cycles? Where are they found? /2(10)
Carbon Hydrogen Sulphur Phosphorus Oxygen Nitrogen
Found in: Soil Rocks Greenhouse gases Plant & animal tissues
How do the biogeochemical cycles proceed? /3(10)
Biological: respiration, digestion
Geological: Rock, erosion, sedimentation
Chemical: combustion, synthesis
What is the description of Carbon in the biosphere? /2
Present in all known life forms and organic compounds
2nd most abundant element in the body (cellular respiration)
What is the description of Oxygen in the biosphere? /2
Breathing all structural molecules in living organism that contain oxygen:
Bones
Teeth
Most abundant element of the body
What is the description of Hydrogen in the biosphere? /3
Most abundant element in the UNIVERSE
Part of the water molecule
Part of many compounds
What is the carbon cycle? /2
The biogeochemical cycle involving all the exchanges of carbon on Earth
Carbon atoms being constantly exchanged between: Living organisms Dead organisms Atmosphere Lithosphere Hydrosphere
What are the biological aspects of the carbon cycle?
Photosynthesis Cellular respiration Ingestion Decomposition Forest fires
What are the geological aspects of the carbon cycle?
Shells and skeletons
Carbonate Rock
Volcanic eruptions
Fossil fuels
What is the relationship between plants and the atmosphere? Explain/describe it /4
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
What is the chemical equation of photosynthesis?
6CO2+6H2O+SUNLIGHT = C6H12O6+6O2
What is the relationship between animals and the atmosphere? Explain/describe it. /4
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.
What is the chemical equation of cellular respiration?
C6H12O6+6O2 = 6CO2+6H2O+ ENERGY (ATP)
What is the relationship between living organisms and plants/animals? Explain/ describe it /2
Ingestion
Animals take in carbon by eating plants (herbivores) and/or other animals (carnivores/omnivores)
What is the relationship between waste and the atmosphere? Explain/describe it. /3
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
What is the relationship between forests and the atmosphere? Explain/ describe it. /4
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
What are the relationships between the atmosphere and the hydrosphere? /2
Water and marine shells
Carbonate Rock
Describe the relationship between shells & skeletons and the atmosphere? /4
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
What is carbonate rock? /2
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
What is the relationship between carbonate rock and volcanic eruptions?/2
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
What is the relationship between carbonate rock and fossil fuels? /3
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
What does carbon dioxide become once absorbed into the ocean?
Carbonic acid
Bicarbonate
Calcium carbonate
Carbonate rock
Shells and skeletons
What is the equation for carbonic acid?
CO2 + H2O —> H2CO3
What is the equation for bicarbonate?
H2CO3 —> H+ + HCO3-
What is the equation for calcium carbonate?
Ca+ + 2HCO3- —> CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O
