Nutrient Cycling Quest
1) Draw the carbon cycle (on a seperate piece of paper)
2) How does carbon exist in the atmosphere?
The carbon exists in the atmosphere because of photosynthesis and then respiration.
3) How are fossil fuels created? Explain.
The fossil fuels are created when the plants and animal die, and are buried underground for millions of years.
4) Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere.
The carbon enters the atmosphere by photosynthesis and respiration.
5) How are the oceans involved in the carbon cycle?
The oceans are involved in the carbon cycle, because they soak up some carbon from the atmosphere.
6) How is the temperature of the Earth partly controlled by carbon?
The temperature of the Earth is partly controlled by carbon, because the greenhouse gas traps the heat in the atmosphere.
7) What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle?
The role of the rocks in the carbon cycle, by adding carbon to surface water that goes to the ocean.
8) Where are you starting with the carbon cycle?
9) How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon?
0.04% of the atmosphere is made out of carbon dioxide.
10) By how much has CO2 increased in the atmosphere during the past 150 years?
The amount has increased by 30% during the past 150 years.
The carbon exists in the atmosphere because of photosynthesis and then respiration.
3) How are fossil fuels created? Explain.
The fossil fuels are created when the plants and animal die, and are buried underground for millions of years.
4) Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere.
The carbon enters the atmosphere by photosynthesis and respiration.
5) How are the oceans involved in the carbon cycle?
The oceans are involved in the carbon cycle, because they soak up some carbon from the atmosphere.
6) How is the temperature of the Earth partly controlled by carbon?
The temperature of the Earth is partly controlled by carbon, because the greenhouse gas traps the heat in the atmosphere.
7) What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle?
The role of the rocks in the carbon cycle, by adding carbon to surface water that goes to the ocean.
8) Where are you starting with the carbon cycle?
9) How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon?
0.04% of the atmosphere is made out of carbon dioxide.
10) By how much has CO2 increased in the atmosphere during the past 150 years?
The amount has increased by 30% during the past 150 years.
11. Next stop = _________________________________________
What did you learn?
12. Next stop = _________________________________________
What did you learn?
The deep ocean accounts for more than 65% of the Earth’s carbon.
How much carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year?
True or False: When plants die and decay, they bring carbon into soil.
True
13. Next stop = _________________________________________
What did you learn?
14. Next stop = _________________________________________
What did you learn?
15. Next stop = _________________________________________
What did you learn?
When carbon enters the deep ocean, how long does it stay there?
Carbon normally stays there for hundreds of years.
True or False: Phytoplankton are tiny plants and algae that float in the ocean and take up carbon
dioxide as they grow.
False
True or False: Plants both absorb CO
2 from the atmosphere and release it into the atmosphere.
True
16. What are the two conditions under which nitrogen will react with oxygen? (In other
words, what is necessary for nitrogen in the air to combine with oxygen?)
For nitrogen to react with oxygen, you need high temperatures and pressures.
17. What are the two compounds that are formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen?
Two compounds that are formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen are nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide.
18. How does nitric acid (HNO3) form?
Nitric acid forms when nitrogen dioxide may interact with water.
19. Why is nitric acid (HNO3) important?
Nitric acid is important because it can be used to make proteins and fertilizer.
20. What percentage of the air we breathe is nitrogen?
Seventy-nine percent of the air we breathe is nitrogen.
21. Even though considerable nitrogen is available in the air, most plants do not use the nitrogen (N2) found in the air. Why not?
Plants don't use nitrogen in the air because they need nitrogen in its "fixed" form.
22. In what compounds can plants use nitrogen?
Plants can use nitrogen if it is nitrate ions, ammonium ions, and urea.
23. How do animals get the nitrogen they need?
Animals get the nitrogen they need from plants or animals who have eaten plants.
24. Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is pretty inert. This means that it does not easily break apart.
When molecules do not break apart easily, it is difficult (or impossible) for organisms to use
them as a nutrient source. As a result, nitrogen fixation is the term used to describe the
process of breaking up N2
.
a. What is atmospheric fixation?
Atmospheric fixation is when nitrogen molecules break to combine their molecules with oxygen.
b. What is industrial fixation? [This is how artificial fertilizers are made.]
Nitrogen has to be heated up to a temperature of 600 C and have a catalyst
c. What is biological fixation? (In your answer, describe the types of plants associated
with the symbiotic relationship.)
Biological Fixation is when a plant or animal breaks down nitrogen, some examples of a symbiotic relationship in this fixation would be soybeans ,alfalfa or any animal that eats wood.
25. Draw the nitrogen cycle: On a separate piece of paper: (Remember there are other
diagrams on the previous websites.) If you’re not sure what a term means, look through the
reading and links for help.
26. Why is nitrogen needed by plants and animals?
Nitrogen is used for the process of metabolism.
What did you learn?
12. Next stop = _________________________________________
What did you learn?
The deep ocean accounts for more than 65% of the Earth’s carbon.
How much carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year?
True or False: When plants die and decay, they bring carbon into soil.
True
13. Next stop = _________________________________________
What did you learn?
14. Next stop = _________________________________________
What did you learn?
15. Next stop = _________________________________________
What did you learn?
When carbon enters the deep ocean, how long does it stay there?
Carbon normally stays there for hundreds of years.
True or False: Phytoplankton are tiny plants and algae that float in the ocean and take up carbon
dioxide as they grow.
False
True or False: Plants both absorb CO
2 from the atmosphere and release it into the atmosphere.
True
16. What are the two conditions under which nitrogen will react with oxygen? (In other
words, what is necessary for nitrogen in the air to combine with oxygen?)
For nitrogen to react with oxygen, you need high temperatures and pressures.
17. What are the two compounds that are formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen?
Two compounds that are formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen are nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide.
18. How does nitric acid (HNO3) form?
Nitric acid forms when nitrogen dioxide may interact with water.
19. Why is nitric acid (HNO3) important?
Nitric acid is important because it can be used to make proteins and fertilizer.
20. What percentage of the air we breathe is nitrogen?
Seventy-nine percent of the air we breathe is nitrogen.
21. Even though considerable nitrogen is available in the air, most plants do not use the nitrogen (N2) found in the air. Why not?
Plants don't use nitrogen in the air because they need nitrogen in its "fixed" form.
22. In what compounds can plants use nitrogen?
Plants can use nitrogen if it is nitrate ions, ammonium ions, and urea.
23. How do animals get the nitrogen they need?
Animals get the nitrogen they need from plants or animals who have eaten plants.
24. Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is pretty inert. This means that it does not easily break apart.
When molecules do not break apart easily, it is difficult (or impossible) for organisms to use
them as a nutrient source. As a result, nitrogen fixation is the term used to describe the
process of breaking up N2
.
a. What is atmospheric fixation?
Atmospheric fixation is when nitrogen molecules break to combine their molecules with oxygen.
b. What is industrial fixation? [This is how artificial fertilizers are made.]
Nitrogen has to be heated up to a temperature of 600 C and have a catalyst
c. What is biological fixation? (In your answer, describe the types of plants associated
with the symbiotic relationship.)
Biological Fixation is when a plant or animal breaks down nitrogen, some examples of a symbiotic relationship in this fixation would be soybeans ,alfalfa or any animal that eats wood.
25. Draw the nitrogen cycle: On a separate piece of paper: (Remember there are other
diagrams on the previous websites.) If you’re not sure what a term means, look through the
reading and links for help.
26. Why is nitrogen needed by plants and animals?
Nitrogen is used for the process of metabolism.
1. Define "water cycle".
The water cycle is a complex process that not only gives us water to drink, fish to eat, but also weather patterns that help grow our crops.
2. What fraction of the Earth’s surface is covered in water?
It covers three/fourths of the Earth's surface.
3. What percentage of all the Earth’s water is in a form that is useable to humans and land
animals?
Only 1% is in a form useable to humans and land animals.
1. Evaporation is the process where a liquid changes from its Liquid state to a gaseous state.
2. Why is evaporated water so clean?
The impurities in the water are left behind.
3. Condensation occurs when a gas is changed into a liquid.
4. Condensation is the opposite of evaporation.
5. When the temperature and atmospheric pressure are right, the small droplets of water in clouds form larger droplets and precipitation occurs.
6. Define transpiration: As plants absorb water from the soil, the water moves from the roots through the stems to the leaves. Once the water reaches the leaves, some of it evaporates from the leaves, adding to the amount of water vapor in the air.
7. Define percolation:Percolation is the process of a liquid slowly passing through a filter.
1. Using the terms "evaporation", "condensation", and "precipitation", explain the water cycle in your own words.
2. What factor is most important in determining whether water is a solid, liquid, or gas?
Temperature
3. Is the amount of water on Earth always changing or is it a constant amount?
It is constant.
The water cycle is a complex process that not only gives us water to drink, fish to eat, but also weather patterns that help grow our crops.
2. What fraction of the Earth’s surface is covered in water?
It covers three/fourths of the Earth's surface.
3. What percentage of all the Earth’s water is in a form that is useable to humans and land
animals?
Only 1% is in a form useable to humans and land animals.
1. Evaporation is the process where a liquid changes from its Liquid state to a gaseous state.
2. Why is evaporated water so clean?
The impurities in the water are left behind.
3. Condensation occurs when a gas is changed into a liquid.
4. Condensation is the opposite of evaporation.
5. When the temperature and atmospheric pressure are right, the small droplets of water in clouds form larger droplets and precipitation occurs.
6. Define transpiration: As plants absorb water from the soil, the water moves from the roots through the stems to the leaves. Once the water reaches the leaves, some of it evaporates from the leaves, adding to the amount of water vapor in the air.
7. Define percolation:Percolation is the process of a liquid slowly passing through a filter.
1. Using the terms "evaporation", "condensation", and "precipitation", explain the water cycle in your own words.
2. What factor is most important in determining whether water is a solid, liquid, or gas?
Temperature
3. Is the amount of water on Earth always changing or is it a constant amount?
It is constant.