Earth and Nitrogen Cycles

Question 1

What are the four spheres?

Answer 1

Biosphere (living things) atmosphere (air) hydrosphere (water) lithosphere (land)

Question 2

what do all of the spheres interact as

Answer 2

global system

Question 3

biosphere

Answer 3

Consists of all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere.

Question 4

hydrosphere

Answer 4

all the waters on the earth’s surface, such as lakes and seas, and sometimes including water over the earth’s surface, such as clouds.

Question 5

lithosphere

Answer 5

the solid, outer layer of the earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle

Question 6

atmosphere

Answer 6

A thin layer of gases surrounding Earth- weather

Question 7

carbon cycle

Answer 7

Essential for life on earth. carbon is found in all living things even in dead bodies and waste. Carbon is also found in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide gas.

Question 8

what is carbon dioxide used in

Answer 8

photosynthesis when plants combine it with hydrogen from water to form glucose,

Question 9

photosynthesis equation

Answer 9

carbon dioxide + water -> sunlight -> glucose + oxygen

Question 10

What is carbon recycled through

Answer 10

the soil, living things and the atmosphere in the carbon cycle. the process of photosynthesis in green plants incorporates carbon into living things

Question 11

Respiration

Answer 11

The process by which cells break down simple food molecules to release the energy they contain.

Question 12

Respiration equation

Answer 12

Glucose + oxygen -> carbon dioxide + water

Question 13

Fossil fuels

Answer 13

Such as oil and coal contain the carbon of plants and animals that died and were preserved millions of years ago.

Question 14

What does burning fossil fuels do

Answer 14

releases carbon that has been unavailable to the carbon cycle for millions of years.

Question 15

What is earths largest and oldest long term store of carbon called

Answer 15

Calcium carbonate. Found in limestone.

Question 16

carbon reservoirs

Answer 16

atmosphere, fossil fuels, ocean, plants, animals, soil and rocks

Question 17

what is bacterias role in the carbon cycle

Answer 17

bacteria decompose organic matter and release carbon back into the soil and rocks

Question 18

key processes for the carbon cycle

Answer 18

photosynthesis, cellular respiration, decomposition, fossilisation, combustion

Question 19

how is carbon used by organisms

Answer 19

by plants to build leaves and stems which are then digested by animals and used for cellular growth.

Question 20

photosynthesis

Answer 20

a chemical process that occurs in plants, algae and some types of bacteria when they are exposed to sunlight

Question 21

cellular respiration

Answer 21

the process by which cells drive energy from glucose

Question 22

decomposition

Answer 22

the process by which dead organic substances are broken down into simpler organic or inorganic matter

Question 23

combustion

Answer 23

a chemical process when a substance reacts rapidly with oxygen and gives off heat

Question 24

how is nitrogen used by organisms

Answer 24

to build proteins and other important body chemicals- DNA

Question 25

nitrogen fixation

Answer 25

converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia or ammonium ions. this process is carried out by nitrogen fixing bacteria. the bacteria can be free living or have symbolic relationships with certain plants.

Question 26

nitrification

Answer 26

converts ammonium ions intro nitrite. involves two types of nitrifying bacteria. nitrate is the primary form of nitrogen that plants can absorb and utilise for their growth and development.

Question 27

assimilation

Answer 27

the process where plants take up nitrate and ammonium ions. nitrogen compounds are used to synthesise amino acids, proteins, etc. component of chlorophyll, allows to carry out photosynthesis.

Question 28

ammonification

Answer 28

microbial breakdown of organic nitrogen compounds into ammonium ions. decomposer bacteria and fungi, releases ammonium ions back into soil.
plants/animal->decomposition->soil bacteria->ammonification->ammonium

Question 29

denitrification

Answer 29

when nitrates are converted back into atmospheric nitrogen. helps regulate the balance of nitrogen compounds in ecosystems and prevents an excessive build-up of nitrates.

Question 30

green house gas effect

Answer 30

gases radiate some of this absorbed energy back to Earth’s surface, warming the lower atmosphere

Question 31

Why do green house gases heat up?

Answer 31

the short wave solar radiation can pass through glass into the greenhouse, where it is absorbed by the air, soil and objects in the greenhouse. The heat that is re-radiated is long-wave radiation and cannot pass through glass. it causes the temperature inside the greenhouse to increase.

Question 32

enhance green house gas effect examples

Answer 32

carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide,

Question 33

three gases responsible for the green house effect

Answer 33

water vapour, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide

Question 34

what’s the difference between the enhanced gas effect and green house gas effect

Answer 34

the short waved radiation absorbs the gases that trap heat close to the surface, which keeps the earth warm are green house gases and the enhanced green house gas effect is the cause for rapid global warming, increase in carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide concentrations in the atmosphere after the Industrial Revolution.