Honor Bio 4.2 Flashcards
What is nitrogen fixation?
The process by which nitrogen gas from the atmosphere is converted into ammonia by bacteria, making nitrogen available for plants.
What is nitrification?
The conversion of ammonia into nitrites and then into nitrates by bacteria, which can then be absorbed by plants.
What is denitrification?
The process by which nitrates are converted back into nitrogen gas by bacteria, returning nitrogen to the atmosphere.
What are the inputs and outputs of photosynthesis?
Inputs: Carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight.
Outputs: Glucose and oxygen.
What are the inputs and outputs of cellular respiration?
Inputs: Glucose and oxygen.
Outputs: Carbon dioxide, water, and energy (ATP).
What type of organisms perform photosynthesis?
Plants, algae, and some bacteria.
What type of organisms perform cellular respiration?
Most organisms, including plants, animals, fungi, and many bacteria.
How do humans affect the carbon cycle?
By burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, humans release additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, enhancing the greenhouse effect.
How do humans affect the nitrogen cycle?
Through agricultural practices, especially the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers, which can lead to an excess of nitrogen in ecosystems and water bodies, causing pollution and algal blooms.
How does BTB (Bromothymol Blue) work?
TB is a pH indicator that turns yellow in acidic conditions, green in neutral, and blue in basic conditions, indicating changes in carbon dioxide levels (more CO₂ lowers pH, making the solution more acidic).
Differentiate between how energy and how carbon flow through a food chain.
Energy flows in one direction, starting from producers and moving through consumers, with some energy lost as heat at each level. Carbon, however, is recycled as it moves through the ecosystem, cycling between the atmosphere, organisms, and the Earth.
Predict how BTB will change color in a test tube containing a plant in the light.
The BTB will likely turn blue, as the plant will undergo photosynthesis, absorbing CO₂ and reducing acidity in the solution.
Predict how BTB will change color in a test tube containing a plant in the dark.
The BTB will likely turn yellow or green as the plant undergoes cellular respiration, releasing CO₂ and increasing acidity in the solution.
Predict how BTB will change color in a test tube containing an animal in the light or dark.
In both light and dark conditions, the BTB will likely turn yellow or green, as the animal will perform cellular respiration, releasing CO₂ and increasing the solution’s acidity.
Predict how BTB will change color in a test tube containing both a plant and an animal in the light.
The BTB may turn green or remain neutral as the plant absorbs some of the CO₂ for photosynthesis, balancing the CO₂ released by the animal’s respiration.
