Chapter 2: Cycles of Matter Flashcards
Hydrologic Cycle / Water Cycle
The movement of water through the environment from the atmosphere to Earth and back.
Polar
Refers to a molecule with uneven charge distribution. One side being negative and the other being positive.
Hydrogen Bond
The type of bond that is formed between the positive end of one molecule and the negative end of another molecule.
Cohesion
A force between molecules that holds molecules that are liquid or solid together. This is why water molecules are attracted to one another.
Adhesion
Molecular attraction between two substances or bodies. This is why water is attracted to other molecules such as glass.
Biogeochemical Cycles
The cycle taken by water and other chemical nutrients through the biosphere.
Transpiration
The loss of water through plant leaves.
Percolation
The movement of a liquid through a porous material, such as soil.
Leaching
The removal of soluble minerals by percolation.
Water Table
Where water pools underground on top of clay or rock.
Rapid Cycling (of nutrients)
Relatively quick movements of nutrients through nutrient reservoirs, such as organisms, soil, air, and water.
Slow Cycling (of nutrients)
Long-term storage of nutrients in nutrient reservoirs, such as fossil fuel deposits; nutrients stored in these reservoirs are unavailable for long periods of time.
Nutrient Reservoir
A nutrient reservoir is a component of the biosphere that nutrients temporarily accumulate. These can include soil, water, and organisms.
Acid Deposition
When sulfur and nitrogen emissions undergo chemical change in the atmosphere and enter the environment through acid precipitation, dry particles or gases.
Nitrogen Fixation
The process where nitrogen gas is converted, usually by bacteria, into compounds like ammonium and nitrates that can be used by other organisms.
