Chapter 22

Question 1

Starting at lightning strikes, list the steps of the nitrogen cycle

Answer 1

1. Lightning strike
2. Nitrogen fixing bacteria
3. nitrifying bacteria
4. Assimilation OR denitrification

Question 2

Starting at assimilation, list the steps of the nitrogen cycle

Answer 2

1. Assimilation
2. Ammonification of plants/animals
3. nitrification
4. assimilation or denitrification

Question 3

starting at nitrogen fixation, list the steps of the nitrogen cycle

Answer 3

1. Nitrogen fixation
2. Nitrogen fixing bacteria
3. nitrifying bacteria / nitrificiation
4. Assimilation OR denitrification

Question 4

What does nitrogen fixing bacteria do?

Answer 4

Takes N2 and fixes it into NH3

Question 5

What does nitrifying bacteria do?

Answer 5

Takes NH3 -> NO2 -> NO3

Question 6

What does denitrification bacteria do?

Answer 6

Takes NO3 -> N2

Question 7

What does assimilation do?

Answer 7

Plants taking NO3 from soil and incorporating it into their tissues

Question 8

What does ammonification do?

Answer 8

Waste/dead organic matter from plants/animals into NH4

Question 9

Where is nitrogen mainly found?

Answer 9

In the atmosphere as N2 gas

Question 10

What do you need to know about nitrogen-fixation?

Answer 10

It is incredibly complex and must happen in the absence of Oxygen.

Question 11

How is the phosphorus cycle a cycle?

Answer 11

ONLY on geological time - it happens over hundreds of thousands of years

Question 12

Where does the phosphorus cycle begin?

Answer 12

Uphill, then ends downhill

Question 13

How does phosphorus cycle?

Answer 13

Through weathering and rock breakdown