Chemical Cycle

Question 1

Plants cannot take nitrogen from the air, first it must be converted into a certain form. What form is this? What steps are necessary to converted into this form?

Answer 1

Plants can only use nitrates** or **ammonium ions.

Nitrates: nitrogen fixation, ammonification, nitrification

Ammonium ions: nitrogen fixation, ammonification

Question 2

Why are nitrogen fixing bacteria important in the nitrogen cycle? Give some examples of these bacteria?

Answer 2

The nitrogen fixing bacteria combine nitrogen with oxygen or hydrogen to convert the nitrogen into a useful substance for plants such as ammonia or nitrates.

Ex: Legume, cyanobacteria ect.

Question 3

Where is nitrogen’s major reservoir?

Answer 3

80% of nitrogen is stored in the atmosphere

Question 4

Describe the process of transpiration? What chemical cycle does this process belong to?

Answer 4

Transpiration is the movement of water through plant and eventual evaporation of water from plants. Water leaves through pores on leaves called the stoma. This is part of the water cycle.

Question 5

What is the biological importance of water?

Answer 5

The Water Cycle affects the rate of ecosystem process particularly primary production and decomposition.

Question 6

True or False: Water’s main reservoir are glaciers and icecaps.

Answer 6

FALSE!

Only 2% of water if found in ice caps and glaciers. The majority of

Question 7

Give an example of a process that adds CO₂to the environment?

Answer 7

cellular respiration by animals, bacterial decomposers, burning of fossil fuels.

Question 8

True or False: Photosynethsis adds CO₂ to the air.

Answer 8

False!

Photosynthesis removes CO₂ from air and adds O_2.

(CO₂ is necessary for the Calvin Cycle. )

Question 9

What are key 2 processes in the Carbon Cycle?

Answer 9

Respiration: Releases more CO₂ into the air

Photosynthesis: removes CO₂ from atmosphere

Question 10

Largest carbon reservior?

Answer 10

sedimentary rock although it takes many years.