1 The Carbon Cycle

Carbon dioxide
1 in air 3

2
Carbon Carbon
compounds in compounds in
plants animals
4

6 Carbon
compounds in
soil

Name the processes involved in each of the numbered stages. Add arrowheads to the lines to indicate where
the processes are occurring.
1. Respiration (arrow pointed to Co2 in air)
2. Photosynthesis (arrow pointed to carb cmps in plants)
3. Respiration (arrow pointed to Co2 in air)
4. Feeding (arrow pointed to carb cmps in animal)
5. Decomposed (arrow pointed to carb cmps in animal)
6. Decomposed (arrow pointed to carb cmps in animal)
NB: I couldn’t get the arrows on the diagram so I wrote in the brackets instead.

2.What form of nitrogen is used by the following:

a) nitrogen fixing bacteria
Ans: Nitrogen in the atmosphere
b) nitrifying bacteria
Ans: Ammonium and nitrites
c) animals and
Ans: Protein from nitrates plants
d) Plants
Ans: Nitrates

3.What form of carbon is used by the following:

e) A Hibiscus flower
Ans: Carbon dioxide, carbon compounds from soil
f) Escherichia coli (bacterium)
Ans: Fossils
g) goat
Ans: Proteins, carbohydrates, fats,vitamin.
h) lion
Ans: Proteins, carbohydrates, fats.
i) man
Ans: Protein, carbohydrates , fats, vitamin.
4.

Minerals in 1 Minerals in living

living plants Animals
Air

Dead Dead
Plants animals

Animal
3 excreta
2

Reservoir of Minerals in soil moisture Soill

DIAGRAM OF A MINERAL CYCLE IN NATURE

A) Name ONE natural cycle that shows a similar pattern to that illustrated in the diagram above. (1)
Nitrogen Cycle
b) State the processes that occurred at each of the numbered stages:
1. feeding
2. decomposition
3. assimilation (absorption of minerals through roots)
c) Name a group of organisms that operate at 2 (1)
Ans: Decomposer
d) Give two reasons why the cycle you named is important (2)
 The nitrogen cycle is an essential component, where plant absorb nitrogen from the soil as nitrate ions
and combined with other elements to produce protein.
 When protein is produced by plants, the nitrogen from the protein can be used to build muscle and
make DNA.

e) Describe how the cycle you named may be disrupted (2)

The impacts human create like the burning of fossil fuels can lead to an increase of nitrogen dioxide in
the atmosphere (along with other greenhouse gases) causing higher global air temperatures which
in turn increases global warming and also contributes to the formation of acid rain which kill plants
an trees, poison organism living in water bodies and cause soil erosion.
f) Describe TWO steps which can be taken to compensate for disruption to the cycle named. (4)
 You less nitrogen fertilizers.
 Reduce the combustion of fossil fuels in industry by using an alternative way of getting rid of waste.

(i) Removing the large scale of vegetation affects the area where the carbon cycle would be disrupted
because there are no trees to absorb the carbohydrates or clean the air and more green house gasses
would be present leading to global warming. This can also lead to the migration of animals to find another
habitat and also another source of food. Also the removing of the trees lead to soil erosion which will
lead to the washing away of soil into the nearby waterfall causing pollution in the water bodies which
affect animal, plant and people.
(ii) No littering- Littering can cause pollution in soil and harm plants or may increase the possibility of acid
rain.
Do not destroy vegetation or plants- This may cause soil erosion when roots of plants are constantly disturbed
and can cause and an imbalance in the biochemical cycles that occur.
Do not disturb animals on premises- Some animals help in the pollination process.
No smoking on the premises- Smoking may cause pollution in the air and may cause fires which will cause an
increase in the greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide) which can later on cause acid rain.