Oxygen and Phosphorus Water (hydrologic) Cycle Plants absorb water from the soil Transpiration and respiration return water to the atmosphere Precipitation returns water to the soil Nonmetal oxides in the atmosphere combine with water to form acid rain The Carbon Cycle • Carbon is fixed by plants – 6 CO2 + 6 H2O C6H12O6 + 6 O2 • Carbon is given off by consumers – C6H12O6 + 6 O2 6 CO2 + 6 H2O • Organisms containing carbon form fossil fuels • Burning fossil fuels releases carbon – 2 C8H18 + 25 O2 16 CO2 + 18 H2O Carbon Cycle Arctic Carbon Cycling The Nitrogen Cycle Bacteria fix nitrogen from the air Consumers and producers incorporate nitrogen into their tissues Nitrogen can be fixed industrially from the air Production of ammonia Decay processes return nitrogen to the air Nitrogen from fertilizers may contaminate water sources Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle The Oxygen Cycle • Oxygen is produced by photosynthesis – 6 CO2 + 6 H2O C6H12O6 + 6 O2 – The largest chemical process on earth!
The Phosphorus Cycle • The element phosphorus (P)is released in the form of ionic phosphate (PO43-) – Weathering of rock, mining, some detergents and fertilizers • Phosphate is taken up by plants and fungi • Consumers absorb phosphate from plants • Decomposers return phosphate to soil • Phosphate leaches into water supply – May form new phosphate containing rock