Download E. Natural Biochemical Cycles Carbon Cycle The carbon cycle is

E. Natural Biochemical Cycles
Carbon Cycle
The carbon cycle is one of the most
important cycles of Earth’s atmosphere. It
allows plants to intake nutrients from
respiration, and produce oxygen and
nutrients for consumers. CO2 is known for
having a negative impact on the
environment, but it is a major necessity for
our climate. The problem is too much CO2.
When there is too much for the atmosphere
to hold, plants cannot absorb it all and it
stays in the atmosphere. Outputs of CO2 are
mainly from respiration (plants, animals,
humans) and industry (burning of fossil
fuels). Too much CO2 can increase global temperature (Earth’s climate), but not
enough can drastically cool the Earth.
In this cycle Nitrogen is converted into its
other chemical forms by biological and
atmospheric processes. These include
Nitrogen fixation (N2 is converted by bacteria
in soil to NH3), Ammonification (dead
organisms and proteins release NH3 back into
the atmosphere), Nitrification (bacteria
converts ammonia in the soil to NO2 or NO3),
Denitrification (Bacteria respirates NO3 in soil
to output N2 into the atmosphere), and
Assimilation (Plants absorb NH3 and NO3 from
the soil, and then Ammonia and proteins can
be made for other organisms to absorb by
eating the plant or its nodules). The nitrogen cycle plays a large part in decomposition
and primary production, because decomposers absorb nitrogen and release it and
nitrogen is found in molecules necessary for photosynthesis. Nitrogen is also found in
all Amino Acids, which build up proteins and are essential to life.
Phosphorus is significant to energy
consumption of living organisms. Plants
absorb phosphorus from water and soil,
which is passed through trophic levels from
consumption. When organisms die, the
phosphorus they consume is released into
the soil and is either absorbed by plants or
stored in rocks & soil. Phosphorus is
absorbed by the rocks & soil from run-off into
lakes or streams. It stays absorbed for
millions of years.
Sulfur Cycle
Sulfur is another key contributor to proteins, vitamins, and hormones. Sulfur can either
mineralize or oxidize. Sulfur mineralizes, or reduces to hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and it
oxidizes to sulfate (SO4). Sulfate can be reduced to hydrogen sulfide by anaerobic
respiration (no use of oxygen). Organic sulfur is a main component to proteins. Most
of it is found in sedimentary rocks and minerals (Earth’s Crust). Sulfur cycles mainly
through decomposition and assimilation. Plants absorb sulfate through their roots to
produce organic sulfur compounds that travel through trophic levels. It is released by
the decomposition of dead organisms, fossil fuel combustion, and volcanic eruptions as
H2S. When H2S is converted into SO2, sulfuric acid (H2SO4; weak acid) is formed from
the reaction of SO2 and H2O (an acid carried by rainfall, like HNO3).
Water Cycle
The Water cycle is the most key cycle of all the biological cycles. It even plays parts in
other cycles like the phosphorus cycle (phosphorus being transported to lakes and
streams as run-off). Water is evaporated into its gas phase, and then condensed in
clouds. After it condenses it is precipitated to Earth’s Surface and infiltrated. It is
cycled by being carried back to large water sources from ground water discharge and
runoff, and then evaporated. Also, water is stored as groundwater, and in ice and
snow. Two other ways water gets back into the atmosphere are from sublimation
(frozen water to gaseous water vapor) and Evapotranspiration (release of water vapor
from plants and soil).
Law of Conservation of Matter
This theory proves that matter can neither be created nor destroyed. One thing matter
can do is rearrange or be changed chemically. The Law of Conservation shows that
when a reaction occurs, the mass of the products equals the reactants. In a closed
system the matter will always be present no matter what reaction occurs; it is just
changed.
Here is an example of a reaction to show the Law of Conservation of Matter:
The burning of Calcium Carbonate:
This shows how the mass of the products is equal to the mass of the reactant, even
though the reactant was chemically decomposed to form two compounds.
Sources
Diagrams and information on the phosphorus and sulfur cycles
The Carbon Cycle: "SAS Carbon •
Cycle." SASindex. Web. 05 May 2010. <http://www.starsandseas.com/SAS%20Ecology/SAS%20chemcycles/cycle_carbon.htm>. The Nitrogen Cycle: "ElectroMagnetic •
Current." LVL39 Forum ‐ Investigating Paranormal, UFO, Alien and Above Top Secret UFO Conspiracy. Web. 05 May 2010. <http://www.lvl39.com/forums/amateur‐articles/1511‐
electromagnetic‐current.html>. •
The Phosphorus Cycle: "SAS Phosphorus Cycle." SASindex. Web. 05 May 2010. <http://www.starsandseas.com/SAS%20Ecology/SAS%20chemcycles/cycle_phosphorus.htm>.
•
The Sulfur Cycle: "Bacteria and Archaea and the Cycles of Elements in the Environment." Online Textbook of Bacteriology. Web. 05 May 2010. <http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/environment_4.html>.
•
The Water Cycle: Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy ‐ Univ. Okla. Web. 05 May 2010. <http://www.nhn.ou.edu/~jeffery/course/c_energy/energyl/lec004.html>. Information on the Law of conservation of mass and the Carbon, Nitrogen, and Water cycles
was from my knowledge and notes.