Concept 4: Biochemical Cycles

Question 1

Explain why Nitrogen needs to be “fixed” in order for humans to use it

Answer 1

Nitrogen has something called a Triple bond that makes it hard to use.

Question 2

Explain the process of how Nitrogen is “fixed”

Answer 2

Certain Bacteria can have Nitrogenase (enzyme) break the triple bond and turn nitrogen(N2) into Ammonia (N3)

Question 3

Identify the parts of the Nitrogen cycle (5)

Answer 3

1.Nitrogen falls to the earth by precipitation
2.Bacteria that exists to fix nitrogen goes into plants
3.Hydrogen and nitrogen mix and become ammonia
4. Ammonia combines with oxygen (DENITRIFICATION)
5. The now usable nitrogen either goes back into plants to use or goes back into the atmosphere for the cycle to restart.

Question 4

Identify the parts of the Phosphorus cycle(5)

Answer 4

1.Phosphorus is found in rocks
2.Rocks weathered through rain
3.The phosphorus gets dissolved and enters water/soil
4. It is absorbed by plants Animals eat it
5. When these animals die they return to the earth as sediment/rock

Question 5

Identify the parts of the Carbon cycle (6)

Answer 5

1.Carbon is found in the atmosphere
2.Plants absorb it (and can release it) for photosynthesis and animals release carbon dioxide
3.Carbon is also coal, fossil fuels etc
4. Volcanoes may also release carbon dioxide
5.The ocean stores a lot of carbon, so does the plankton in the ocean
6. Human factories and gas emissions also produce carbon dioxide

Question 6

Explain how humans have impacted the Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Carbon cycles

Answer 6

1.Humans use fertilizers for farming, it has harmful effects on the ecosystems, giving it too much nitrogen and phosphorus.
2.Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide which gets absorbed into the ocean and threatens ocean life by making it more acidic.

Question 7

Denitrification

Answer 7

Process which nitrate is converted back into nitrogen and oxygen

Question 8

1st part of the Nitrogen cycle

Answer 8

1. Nitrogen falls to the earth by precipitation

Question 9

2nd part of the Nitrogen cycle

Answer 9

2. Bacteria that exists to fix nitrogen goes into plants

Question 10

3rd part of the Nitrogen cycle

Answer 10

3 .Hydrogen and nitrogen mix and become ammonia

Question 11

4th part of the nitrogen cycle

Answer 11

4.Ammonia combines with oxygen (DENITRIFICATION)

Question 12

last part of the nitrogen cycle

Answer 12

5. The now usable nitrogen either goes back into plants to use or goes back into the atmosphere for the cycle to restart.

Question 13

1st part of the Phosphorus cycle

Answer 13

1. Phosphorus is found in rocks

Question 14

2nd part of the phosphorus cycle

Answer 14

2.Rocks weathered through rain

Question 15

3rd part of the phosphorus cycle

Answer 15

3.The phosphorus gets dissolved and enters water/soil

Question 15

4th part of the phosphorus cycle

Answer 15

4. Its absorbed by plants Animals eat it

Question 16

last part of the phosphorus cycle

Answer 16

5. When these animals die they return to the earth as sediment/rock

Question 17

What are the functions of Nitrogen in the human body (4)

Answer 17

Nitrogen is needed for = proteins, amino acids, DNA and RNA

Question 18

What are the functions of Phosphorus in the human body (4)

Answer 18

Phosphorus is needed for = DNA, RNA, ATP, and phospholipid bilayer