A3 - The Role of Water in Matter Cycles

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary role of water in biogeochemical cycles?

To create solid structures in ecosystems

To act as a universal solvent for various substances (correct)

To facilitate the growth of aquatic plants exclusively

To act as a significant energy source for organisms

Which of the following is NOT a component of the hydrologic cycle?

Precipitation

Photosynthesis (correct)

Evaporation

Condensation

How does water act as a greenhouse gas in the atmosphere?

It reflects sunlight back into space

It absorbs and traps heat energy (correct)

It facilitates cloud formation

It decreases atmospheric pressure

Why does ice float on water?

The crystal structure of ice is less dense than liquid water Signup and view all the answers

What does metabolic water refer to?

Water produced during cellular respiration Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of water in the biosphere exists as liquid?

97% Signup and view all the answers

What is the process called during which water vapor condenses into clouds?

Condensation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the interrelationship of energy and matter?

Energy impacts matter, maintaining balance in ecosystems Signup and view all the answers

What role does water play during winter months for aquatic life?

It provides refuge for aquatic life. Signup and view all the answers

What property of water allows it to store large amounts of heat energy?

Hydrogen bonding. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the density of water when it freezes?

It decreases. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between adhesion and cohesion in water?

Cohesion is stronger than adhesion. Signup and view all the answers

How do organisms primarily gain water from their environment?

Through eating and drinking. Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of drought on plant stomata?

Stomata close to reduce transpiration. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the human body is made up of water?

70% Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of increased global temperatures on ecosystems?

More frequent droughts. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

A3 - The Role of Water in Matter Cycles

Water plays a crucial role in biogeochemical cycles due to its chemical and physical properties.
Water's properties, including its ability to form hydrogen bonds and being a universal solvent, influence homeostasis and impact ecosystems.
Earth's water supply is limited within the biosphere. This water comes from various sources, including surface water sources, snow, ice, oceans or cellular respiration (metabolic water).

Water in the Biosphere

The biosphere is a closed system with a limited amount of water.
Water and other chemical nutrients cycle through biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components of the biosphere via biogeochemical cycles.

The Hydrologic Cycle

The hydrologic cycle involves the continuous movement of water between the Earth's surface and the atmosphere.
This cycle involves four key processes: evaporation (or transpiration), condensation, precipitation, and runoff.
The cycle connects ecosystems, and any changes in one part of it will affect other parts of the cycle.
Water exists in all three states (solid, liquid, and gas) in the hydrologic cycle.
Ninety-seven percent of water in the biosphere is liquid water due to its high boiling point.
Water's ability to absorb and retain heat energy moderates global temperatures.
The transfer of heat throughout the biosphere is facilitated by water's capacity to absorb large amounts of heat energy, which is distributed by wind and ocean currents.

Water as a Universal Solvent

Water's polar nature allows it to dissolve many substances, making it a universal solvent.
This property enables the transport of various dissolved substances within living organisms, which is referred to as biogeochemical cycling.

Hydrogen Bonding

Hydrogen bonding and forces of repulsion between oxygen atoms create open spaces in ice, resulting in a lower density than liquid water.
This unique property causes ice to float, preventing lakes and ponds from freezing completely.
Hydrogen bonding is also responsible for water's high heat capacity, enabling it to absorb and store large amounts of heat energy without significant temperature changes. This moderates temperatures over a larger range, supporting a variety of climates

Water Stores Heat

Water's high specific heat capacity means it requires a lot of energy to change its temperature.
This property is significant for moderating the temperature of large bodies of water and within organisms.

Density

Water's density changes based on temperature. Cold water has a lower density than warm water; warm water has a higher density.
This difference in density plays a vital role in aquatic environments.

Cohesion

Water molecules' attraction to each other creates cohesion, leading to surface tension.
Cohesion is crucial for various biological processes, such as the ability of some insects to walk on water.

Adhesion

Water's attraction to other substances, called adhesion, creates an upward force countering gravity.
Adhesion and cohesion work together to move water up plants' tissues via transpiration.

Water and Organisms

Human bodies are composed primarily of water.
Organisms gain water through eating, drinking, absorption, and cellular respiration. They lose water through breathing, sweating, and waste.
Maintaining a balance of water absorption, retention, and loss is crucial for metabolic activities.

Water and the Greenhouse Effect

Water's presence in the atmosphere acts as a greenhouse gas, trapping heat.
Changes in water availability (e.g., droughts) can significantly impact ecosystems and human activities, such as agriculture.
Limited water availability can lead to plant stress through strategies like closing stomata to conserve water and impacting photosynthesis.
Human activities that increase greenhouse gasses further impact water cycles such as evaporation.

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Description

Explore the critical role that water plays in biogeochemical cycles and the interconnectedness of ecosystems. This quiz delves into water's properties, the hydrologic cycle, and its impact on both biotic and abiotic components of the biosphere. Test your understanding of how water circulates and sustains life on Earth.