LG 3.2.

2 Nitrogen Cycle

Components Tasks TA
(min)a
Target After completing this module, the students are expected to: 1
1. trace the path of the nitrogen cycle;
2. identify the role of organisms in the nitrogen cycle; and
3. identify the chemical reactions involved in nitrogen cycle.

Hook The typical human takes between 17,280 and 23,040 breaths every day. (Brown, 2
2014). Figure 1 below shows the difference in composition between unbreathed and
breathed air.

Figure 1. Air composition of unbreathed and breathed air

Surely, you can use the knowledge you have gained from the previous lesson about
carbon and oxygen cycle to explain the difference in terms of oxygen, carbon dioxide
and water vapor contents. But, why is nitrogen gas the same for both? Write your
answer on the space provided below.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

Ignite Nitrogen Cycle

18
Other than carbon and oxygen, nitrogen (N) is also an essential element for all living
organisms. It is a big part of the amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins
and nucleic acids such as DNA, which contains instructions needed for an organism
to grow, develop, and reproduce. All living organisms therefore need massive
quantities of nitrogen.

Nitrogen, in the form of N2 or nitrogen gas, is very abundant in our atmosphere. In

fact, 78% of our atmosphere’s volume is nitrogen gas (N! ). However, despite of this
abundance, utilizing nitrogen for organic growth is not easy. Nitrogen gas, having
triple covalent bonds (see figure 2 below) between atoms, is so stable that it will not
react with anything. This explains why nitrogen content is the same for both
unbreathed and breathed air. Therefore, it has to be “fixed” first before it can be
utilized by plants and phytoplankton and be passed up through the food chain.
PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM Integrated Science 1 Page 1 of
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 Figure 2. Triple bonds of nitrogen gas

Generally, the processes involved in the movement of nitrogen from the atmosphere
into the living world and back to the atmosphere are nitrogen fixation, assimilation,
ammonification, nitrification and denitrification. These processes are shown in
figure 3 below.

Figure 3. Nitrogen cycle

Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki

Nitrogen enters in the living world with the aid of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which
converts nitrogen gas (N! ) in the atmosphere into forms that can be utilized by living
organisms in a process called nitrogen fixation (see figure 4). Natural processes, such
as lightning, also helps in “fixing” nitrogen gas. Lightning produces enough energy
that breaks nitrogen molecules apart and combines with oxygen in the atmosphere
forming nitrogen oxides (NO" ). These nitrogen oxides dissolve in rain and carried to
the ground forming nitrates (NO# $ ) which can readily be absorbed by plants.

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 Examples of Nitrogen-fixing Bacteria
• Photosynthetic cyanobacteria – present in most aquatic environments
that have sunlight; they play an important role in nitrogen fixation.
• Rhizobium – another form of bacteria that lives symbiotically in the
roots of legume plants (e.g. peanuts, peas, and beans)
• Bacteria in the genus Azotobacter – another important nitrogen fixers
in land-based environments.

Figure 4. Nitrogen fixation

Image Source: https://ib.bioninja.com.au/

The product of nitrogen fixation is ammonia (NH# ), an inorganic molecule which can
be taken up by some plants in a process called assimilation. The assimilated ammonia
is used by plants to make organic molecules. From here, nitrogen can be passed
through the food chain when plants are eaten by animals and or excreted as waste, in
the form of urea, when animals urinate.

When these animals and plants die, their remains are converted into ammonium (NH%& )
by the ammonifying bacteria and fungi in a process called ammonification (see
figure 5).

Figure 5. Ammonification
Image Source: https://ib.bioninja.com.au/

This same process also converts ammonia into ammonium. This ammonium is then
converted into nitrites (NO! $ ) and nitrates (NO# $ ) by nitrifying bacteria, such as
Nitrosomonas, through the process called nitrification (see figure 6).

Figure 6. Nitrification
Image Source: https://ib.bioninja.com.au/

From here, nitrates can either be assimilated by the plants and enter the food web or
be converted into nitrogen gas, allowing it to re-enter the atmosphere for another

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 cycle. The conversion of nitrates into nitrogen gas is done by denitrifying bacteria,
such as Pseudomonas, in the process called denitrification.

Figure 7. Denitrification
Image Source: https://ib.bioninja.com.au/

Human Contribution to Nitrogen Cycle

Humans may not have the ability to fix nitrogen gas biologically but we have
contributed in the fixation of nitrogen due to industrial and agricultural improvement.
Overall, human activities have contributed in the release of nitrogen into the
environment by burning of fossil fuels and using of nitrogen-containing fertilizers in
agriculture.

Knot In summary, nitrogen is an essential element for all living organisms as it is a major 1
component of proteins and DNA.

Nitrogen cycle involves the following processes: nitrogen fixation, assimilation,

ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification.

Nitrogen fixation is the conversion of nitrogen gas into ammonia. This is done by the
help of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and prokaryotes such as photosynthetic cyanobacteria,
Rhizobium and Azotobacter. Natural phenomenon like lightning also helps in nitrogen
fixation.

Ammonification is the conversion of remains of dead plants and animals and ammonia
into ammonium which is done by certain ammonifying bacteria and fungi.

Nitrification is the conversion of ammonium into nitrites and nitrates which is done
by nitrifying bacteria such as Nitrosomonas.

Denitrification is the conversion of nitrates into nitrogen gas. This is done by

denitrifying bacteria such as Pseudomonas.

Bacteria and other single-celled prokaryotes play an important role in the nitrogen
cycle.

References:

1. Albarico, J.M. (2013). THINK Framework. Based on Ramos, E.G. and N. Apolinario. (n.d.)
Science LINKS. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore Inc.

2. Brown, A. (2014, April 28). How Many Breaths Do You Take Each Day? The EPA Blog.
https://blog.epa.gov/2014/04/28/how-many-breaths-do-you-take-each-day/

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 3. ‘Nitrogen Cycle’ by Johann Dréo available at
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nitrogen_Cycle.svg. Licensed under Creative
Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported. Full terms at
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

4. Nitrogen Cycle. (n.d.). https://ib.bioninja.com.au/options/option-c-ecology-and-conser/c6-

nitrogen-and-phosphorus/nitrogen-cycle.html

5. OpenStax College, Concepts of Biology (April 25, 2013). Biogeochemical Cycles

https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/20-2-biogeochemical-cycles. Licensed
under Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0. Full terms at
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.ast

6. THINK icons by Microsoft Office Icons.

Prepared by: Reviewed by Reviewed and Approved by

MITCHIE BERN C. BENIGA SUZETTE PALICTE ALICE C. MANUEL

Special Science Teacher II Special Science Teacher IV Special Science Teacher IV
Central Luzon Campus Southern Mindanao Campus Cagayan Valley Campus

PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM Integrated Science 1 Page 5 of

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 LG 3.2.3 Phosphorus Cycle

TA
Component Tasks (min
)
TARGET By the end of this learning guide module, the students should be able to: 1
1. Trace the path of the phosphorus cycle and how they affect living things.
2. Identify the general role of organisms in the phosphorus cycle.
3. Identify the chemical reactions involved in the phosphorus cycle.
HOOK From the passage below, answer a short response question for this warmer exercise: 3

Different states of matter (solid, liquid, and gas) have different arrangements of atoms in
it. The following figure illustrates this:

Figure 1. The three states of matter are shown here. In solids, the particles are tightly squeezed together. In
liquids, the particles can move more compared to solids. On the other hand, particles in gasses are spread
out.
Photo taken from (The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, 2007)

Based on the first discussion on the introductory lesson of biogeochemical cycles we

know that there are four geospheres or compartments that the elements travel during the
cycle. These geospheres are composed of predominantly one state of matter. Unlike other
nutrients, phosphorus exists as a liquid form in normal temperatures and pressures thus
movement is dominantly in the three geospheres except the atmosphere (Lenntech B.V.,
2020). Based on this information, describe how fast the movement of phosphorus on
Earth:

The lithosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere are mostly solid and liquid matter. So given
the atomic arrangement of solids and liquids, the movement of nutrients in these will be
very slow compared to the other biogeochemical cycles.

IGNITE Before we start, let us define some important concepts that we will discuss in this lesson: 17
● Ions are atoms or a molecule that has an electric charge. It is usually written
by using a superscript to the sign and magnitude of their charges
(chemicool.com, 2017).

● Apatite is a group of phosphate minerals and is an important component of

phosphorite (rock mined for its phosphorus content) (King, n.d.).

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 ● DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a blueprint material of almost all living
organisms. In a person's body, every cell has an identical DNA (National
Human Genome Research Institute, 2020).

● Organic compounds are mainly coming from organic organisms that

contain carbon while inorganic compounds are obtained from natural
processes and man-made processes (chemical manufacturing of fertilizers)
and do not contain carbon (with some exceptions) (BYJU’S, n.d.).

● A limiting nutrient is when an element/compound (phosphorus for

example) is in limited supply, thus controlling the rate of growth of
organisms. This is particularly true for aquatic and freshwater ecosystems
(Khan Academy, n.d.).

● Plants are the primary producer in the phosphorus cycle where it is

concentrated in its tissues.

Sources of Phosphorus in the Geospheres

If you answered our hook activity above with the phosphorus cycle being slow then you
are correct! Unlike the previous elements (carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen), phosphorus
does not exist in our atmosphere. The gases in our atmosphere are freely moving faster
than the liquid and gas state. Phosphorus (represented by P in the periodic table of
elements) in gas form can never be found in the natural environment in large amounts
(Jahnke, 2019). These are naturally occurring in nature as phosphates and represented as
an ion with chemical symbol PO4-3. It can be found naturally as apatite minerals. All
these compounds coming naturally occurring processes are called inorganic forms of
phosphorus.

Figure 2. Two apatite fragments.

Photo taken from (Pallardy, n.d.)

Apatite is also being generated by living organisms as components of bodies like teeth,
bones, and scales. After the mentioned organisms die, these elements usually accumulate
in sediments and soils. Since all the organisms here on Earth are carbon-based life, these
forms of phosphorus contain carbon and are called organic forms of phosphorus.

Phosphate is an essential constituent of nucleic acids, DNA (material for the double
helix), and RNA. Furthermore, it plays an important role also in the manipulation of
chemical energy in cells via the processing of bonds of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
Lastly, phosphate is an important component of phospholipids, which are needed in the
development of cell membranes and structural body parts of the organism. All of this

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 plays a role in the chemical processes in the biosphere and without phosphorus,
organisms cannot exist.

The major inorganic source of phosphorus in sediments. Phosphates originate usually in

igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks (Reservoirs - The Phosphorus Cycle, n.d.).
This makes phosphorus unavailable to plants since it is locked up in sediments and rocks.

The Phosphorus Cycle

Like carbon-oxygen and nitrogen-cycles, the phosphorus cycle involves both the biotic
and abiotic components. The rate of movement of phosphate is fast in the biosphere
(plants and animals) but moves very slowly in the lithosphere (rocks and soil). The cycle
starts when phosphate is weathered from rocks and minerals and is carried by gravity or
rain to the terrestrial environment. These inorganic phosphates reach the soil and water.
Vegetation (plants) absorbs these inorganic phosphates from the soil and then is eaten
by animals. Once the animal or plant ingests these phosphates, it is then incorporated
into organic molecules such as DNA (Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga
Pūtaiao, 2013).

Figure 3. The Phosphorus Cycle

Photo taken from (Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao, 2013)

These animals and plants die as they reach the end of their lifespan. The process of
decomposition helps return these organic phosphates to the soil. These organic
phosphates are converted back to the inorganic form of phosphorus with the help of
bacteria. This process is called mineralization. The phosphorus added in the soil can be
transported to oceans or other bodies of water. After some time, these can be deposited
into sediments. This soil level phosphorus cycle can be illustrated below:

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 Figure 4. Soil-level Phosphorus Cycle
Photo taken from (University of Hawai‘i - College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, n.d.)
Compared to other biogeochemical cycles the phosphorus cycle is not “perfect”. Instead
of returning much of the element to the soil, it ends up in the bottom of bodies of water
as runoffs. It takes millions of years for the bottom of the ocean to rise. This is the reason
why farmers need to buy fertilizers containing phosphorus to be used in their crops.

Chemical Reactions during Transformation in Soil

When phosphorus enters the soils via inorganic sources and organic sources, it cycles in
the soil through these different processes:

Mineralization and Immobilization – When microbes convert organic phosphorus to

inorganic phosphorus this is called mineralization. The reverse of this is called
immobilization. During immobilization, microorganisms convert inorganic forms to
organic phosphate, which are then absorbed by living cells (University of Hawai‘i -
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, n.d.)

Adsorption and Desorption – For the Phosphorus in the soil solution to attach to the
surface of soil particles a process called adsorption needs to take place. It is a fast and
reversible process wherein adsorbed phosphorus can be returned to the soil solution via
desorption.

Weathering, Precipitation, and Dissolution – Minerals break down over time in a process
called weathering. It is a very long process of breaking down apatite to release
phosphorus to the environment. On the other hand, precipitation of phosphorus involved
reacting with another substance to form a solid. A specific form of weathering is called
dissolution. This occurs when phosphate minerals dissolve and return phosphate to the
soil solution (Prasad & Chakraborty, 2019).

Maintaining the Balance in the Phosphorus Cycle

Cycling of phosphorus in the three geospheres must be balanced, meaning that the
number of nutrients overall in these compartments should be in a healthy balance.
PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM Integrated Science 1 Page 9 of
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 Phosphorous, together with nitrogen, is a limiting nutrient. To replenish the lacking
phosphorus in the soil, farmers need to put in commercial fertilizers to supply nutrients
to their crops. Sometimes over-fertilizing fields can cause leaching of phosphorus to
bodies of water. This can cause an imbalance in the cycle and lead to disastrous
consequences.

For more on the human impacts of this imbalance, further discussion will be done in the
succeeding lessons.

KNOT To summarize the lesson: 3

● The phosphorus cycle is different from the other biogeochemical cycle because
it is not in large amounts in the atmosphere.

● Phosphorus exists naturally as phosphates. The phosphorus present in this

mineral is hard to break down thus the process of weathering takes a long time.

● Phosphorus is very important in the biosphere as it is the main ingredient in the

development and function of cells.
● Phosphorus is a limiting nutrient, especially in aquatic systems.
● Phosphorus present in soils cannot be used entirely by plants. It needs to be
converted to a usable form. This is then returned to the soil and converted to
inorganic form.

References
Beth, K. (n.d.). Simple Phosphorus Cycle Diagram | Carbon cycle, Cycle, Microbiology. Retrieved
August 6, 2020, from https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/364087951102755737/
BYJU’S. (n.d.). Difference Between Organic and Inorganic Compounds Key Differences. Retrieved
August 3, 2020, from https://byjus.com/chemistry/difference-between-organic-and-inorganic-
compounds/
chemicool.com. (2017). Definition of ion - Chemistry Dictionary.
https://www.chemicool.com/definition/ion.html
Jahnke, R. A. (2019). Occurrence of Phosphorus. In Earth System Science Froom Biogeochemical Cycles
to Global Change (pp. 316–376). Elsevier Academic Press.
https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118786352.wbieg1087.pub2
Khan Academy. (n.d.). The phosphorus cycle. Retrieved April 24, 2019, from
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/ecology/biogeochemical-cycles/a/the-phosphorous-
cycle
King, H. M. (n.d.). Apatite: Its uses as a mineral and gemstone. 2005. Retrieved August 2, 2020, from
https://geology.com/minerals/apatite.shtml
Lenntech B.V. (2020). Phosphorus cycle. https://www.lenntech.com/phosphorus-cycle.htm
National Human Genome Research Institute. (2020). What is DNA? - Genetics Home Reference - NIH.
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/basics/dna
Pallardy, R. (n.d.). Apatite. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved August 3, 2020, from
https://www.britannica.com/science/apatite
Prasad, R., & Chakraborty, D. (2019). Phosphorus Basics: Understanding Phosphorus Forms and Their
Cycling in the Soil - Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

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 https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/crop-production/understanding-phosphorus-forms-and-their-
cycling-in-the-soil/?cn-reloaded=1
Reservoirs - The Phosphorus Cycle. (n.d.). Retrieved August 3, 2020, from
http://phosphoruscycles.weebly.com/reservoirs.html
Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao. (2013). The Phosphorus Cycle.
https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/961-the-phosphorus-cycle
The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato. (2007). States of matter — Science Learning
Hub. https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1499-states-of-matter
University of Hawai‘i - College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. (n.d.). Soil Management.
Retrieved August 6, 2020, from https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/mauisoil/c_nutrients02.aspx

Prepared by Reviewed by Reviewed and approved by

LUIS JULIUS G. BRAGAIS SUZETTE A. PALICTE ALICE C. MANUEL

Special Science Teacher I Special Science Teacher IV Special Science Teacher IV
Bicol Region Campus Southern Mindanao Campus Cagayan Valley Campus

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LG 3.2.4 Sulfur Cycle

Components Tasks TA1

(min)
Target After completing this module, you are expected to: 1
1. trace the sulfur cycle and describe how it affects the organisms;
2. identify the role of organisms in the sulfur cycle; and
3. identify the chemical reactions involved in the sulfur cycle.

Hook You have learned in the previous learning guides the different biogeochemical cycles 3
– Carbon-Oxygen cycle, Nitrogen cycle, and Phosphorous cycle. In this module,
you will be learning about one of the major elemental cycles, the Sulfur Cycle. By
now, you should have an understanding of the concept of biogeochemical cycles.

What are biogeochemical cycles and why are they important? Write your answer on
the space provided below.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
_____
Ignite Before delving deeper into the discussion, let us first familiarize ourselves with the 15
substance, sulfur.

Have you gone on a trip to the hot springs on the foot of a mountain and noticed a
foul smell like rotten eggs? If you did, you might have encountered one form of
sulfur. Sulfur is a common element found in rocks and minerals and comprises nearly
3% of Earth’s composition. It is an essential component in producing proteins and
vitamins in the tissues of living organisms.

Figure 1. Sulfur crystals from the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii. Image copyright: by
Friedman, H. (n.d.) Minerals.net. Retrieved from
https://www.minerals.net/mineral/sulfur.aspx

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 The sulfur cycle is one of the essential processes that support many life forms and
ecosystems. It describes how sulfur is transferred in the atmosphere, geosphere, and
biosphere through different processes. Sulfur is important to living organisms
because it is used to make methionine and cysteine, which are two of the essential
amino acids needed to make proteins. It is also needed in some co-enzymes essential
for various biological processes. Sulfur can come from natural sources in land and
in the ocean. It can also be produced through human activities such as mining and
burning of fossil fuels.

In a terrestrial setting, sulfur mainly comes from volcanic activities and breakdown
of rocks and minerals exposed in the Earth’s surface. Volcanic eruptions, although
at sporadic occurrences, contribute sulfur gases to the atmosphere in the form of
hydrogen sulfide. Sulfur is also deposited as sulfur crystals (see Figure 2) in volcanic
vents and hot springs. Large sulfur deposits can be mined commercially because of
its industrial use.

Figure 2. A miner collects sulfur at Kawah Ijen, an active volcano in Indonesia.

(Image copyright: Nunes, R.M. (2016, April 13). iStockphotos. Retrieved from
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/sulfur-miner-at-kawah-ijen-volcano-east-java-
indonesia-gm520616928-91032967)

Volcanic sulfur gases emitted react with the oxygen in the air forming sulfur dioxide
which is the component of the atmospheric sulfur. When sulfur dioxide is dissolved
in the water droplets in the clouds, it becomes sulfuric acid. Sulfur goes back to the
Earth’s surface as dust or particulate matter or as precipitation. Sulfur-bearing rocks
and minerals also release sulfur when broken down into much smaller pieces and are
incorporated into the soil as sulfates. Living organisms, such as plants and bacteria,
take in sulfates and convert it to simpler, organic forms. This will then be passed on
along the food chain and released back to the atmosphere as hydrogen sulfide or will
be incorporated back into the soil as sulfates when organisms decompose.

In a marine setting, sulfur is mainly deposited as sulfides underwater from

hydrothermal vents or more commonly known as “black smokers”. Organisms
known as extremophiles utilize this sulfur as sulfates and convert it into energy to
be able to thrive in the absence of sunlight and oxygen. These organisms absorb the
chemicals released in the hydrothermal vents and convert it into organic forms.

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 Extremophiles were named as such because they flourish in very extreme
environments. Deep marine ecosystems greatly depend on these extremophiles as
the primary producers. Sulfur-rich deposits or sulfides may get washed up to land
releasing sulfur into the soil. Sulfur may also enter the oceans through direct
precipitation, as dust or particulate matter, or sulfur-bearing runoff from continental
settings.

Figure 3. Black smokers found on the ocean floor emit dark, sulfur-rich smoke.
Image copyright: Ocean Exploration Trust. (2018, February 12). Deep sea fish use
hydrothermal vents to incubate eggs. Phys.org. Retrieved from
https://phys.org/news/2018-02-deep-sea-fish-hydrothermal-vents-incubate.html.

Anthropogenic or human-induced activities greatly affect the natural processes of

sulfur cycle. Activities such as mining and extraction of minerals, burning of fossil
fuels, and processing of petroleum contribute large volumes of sulfur in the form of
the harmful sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. As a result, higher concentration of
sulfuric acid is incorporated into rain clouds causing a much more harmful acid rain.
Acidification of aquatic habitats such as lakes and rivers can be harmful to the
organisms such as fishes and plankton. Sulfur dioxide is also an air pollutant which
can cause adverse effects to the respiratory health when inhaled.

Figure 4. Simplified diagram of the sulfur cycle and its primary components and
processes. Image from Miller, T. and Spoolman, S. (2015). Ecosystems: What Are
They and How Do They Work? [Powerpoint Presentation] from Cengage Learning
2015.
PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM Integrated Science 1 Page 14 of
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 Knot SUMMARY: 5
• The sulfur cycle is a collection of processes which describes the transfer of
sulfur in the different spheres of the Earth.
• Sulfur mainly comes from volcanic activities on land and deep marine deposits
near hydrothermal vents.
• Extremophiles utilize sulfur to harness energy for respiration.
• Human activities such as mining and burning of fossil fuels contribute large
volumes of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. This results to adverse effects in
the environment such as acid rain and air pollution.

References:
1. Miller, T. & Spoolman, S. (2015). Living in the Environment. (18th Edition). Cengage Learning.

2. OpenStax. (2013, June 21). Biogeochemical Cycles. OpenStax, Cnx Biology.

Prepared by Reviewed by Approved by

MYRE ADRIENNE JADE F. GESULGA SUZETTE A. PALICTE ALICE C. MANUEL

Special Science Teacher I Special Science Teacher IV Special Science Teacher IV
PSHS-SRC PSHS-SMC PSHS - CVC

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