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Chemical Cycles

Chemical Cycles. Biology 1-2. The Carbon Cycle. Carbon forms the backbone of all organic compounds. Found in the abiotic part of the environment as carbon dioxide gas. The Carbon Cycle cont ’ d. Producers convert carbon dioxide into sugar during photosynthesis.

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Chemical Cycles

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  1. Chemical Cycles Biology 1-2

  2. The Carbon Cycle • Carbon forms the backbone of all organic compounds. • Found in the abiotic part of the environment as carbon dioxide gas.

  3. The Carbon Cycle cont’d • Producers convert carbon dioxide into sugar during photosynthesis. • Consumers get carbon from their food. • Carbon is returned to the atmosphere during cellular respiration. • Sugar is broken down to produce ATP. • Carbon dioxide is released. • Done by producers, consumers and most decomposers.

  4. The Carbon Cycle cont’d • Some carbon is stored when dead organic matter piles up faster than the decomposers can break it down. • Turned into fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas). • Returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide when the fuel is burned.

  5. The Water Cycle • Reactions inside of cells must occur in water. • The water cycle is driven by the sun. • Precipitation-rain, sleet, hail, snow, fog. • Occurs when water changes from a gas to a liquid. • Evaporation-water changing from a liquid to a gas. • Transpiration-water lost through plants.

  6. The Water Cycle cont’d • Water leaves plants and animals when they sweat (evaporation), urinate, transpire (plants) or die. • Some is stored in glaciers, ice caps or aquifers. • Aquifer-underground body of water. • The water is returned to the cycle when the ice melts or the aquifer drains.

  7. The Nitrogen Cycle • Nitrogen makes up nucleic and amino acids. • Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere is unusable by plants and animals. • Bacteria in the soil convert nitrogen gas into nitrates. • Producers absorb nitrates to make organic compounds. • Consumers get N from their food.

  8. The Nitrogen Cycle cont’d • Decomposers return nitrogen to the soil. • Break down dead organic matter and put nitrates into the soil. • Some bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas, returning nitrogen to the atmosphere.

  9. The Phosphorus Cycle • Phosphorus is used in ATP, proteins, nucleic acids, cell membranes, etc. • Most phosphorus is stored in rocks and stones. • Weathering releases phosphorus. • Weathering-wearing away of rocks by wind, water and lichens.

  10. The Phosphorus Cycle cont’d • Producers absorb phosphate to make organic compounds. • Consumers get theirs from their food. • Decomposers return phosphorus to the soil. • Increases the amount of phosphorus in the soil. • Weathering is a very slow process.

  11. The Phosphorus Cycle cont’d • Leaching reduces the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil. • Leaching-removal of chemicals from the soil by water. • Phosphorus in water forms a solid and returns to the earth.

  12. N and P as Limiting Factors • In most ecosystems, nitrogen and phosphorus are limiting factors. • Natural processes of creating nitrates and phosphates are slow. • Dependent on decomposers to recycle nitrogen and phosphorus.

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