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Questions and Answers
What process do plants use to take up carbon atoms?
What process do plants use to take up carbon atoms?
How do animals obtain carbon atoms?
How do animals obtain carbon atoms?
What is the main gas responsible for the greenhouse effect?
What is the main gas responsible for the greenhouse effect?
What happens to the ocean when there is an increase in carbon dioxide levels in the air?
What happens to the ocean when there is an increase in carbon dioxide levels in the air?
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Which of the following is a common form of pure carbon?
Which of the following is a common form of pure carbon?
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Which type of hydrocarbon is referred to as alkenes?
Which type of hydrocarbon is referred to as alkenes?
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What is the primary difference between diamonds and graphite?
What is the primary difference between diamonds and graphite?
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Which hydrocarbon type has triple bonds?
Which hydrocarbon type has triple bonds?
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What is nitrification in the nitrogen cycle?
What is nitrification in the nitrogen cycle?
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Which of the following forms of nitrogen is commonly found in the ground?
Which of the following forms of nitrogen is commonly found in the ground?
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Why do we see algae blooms in water bodies?
Why do we see algae blooms in water bodies?
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What is the primary reason living beings require nitrogen?
What is the primary reason living beings require nitrogen?
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What happens to phosphorus during runoff?
What happens to phosphorus during runoff?
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What is assimilation in the nitrogen cycle?
What is assimilation in the nitrogen cycle?
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What is sedimentation in relation to phosphorus?
What is sedimentation in relation to phosphorus?
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How can algae blooms affect aquatic life?
How can algae blooms affect aquatic life?
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Study Notes
Carbon Cycle
- Fast Carbon Cycle: Plants absorb atmospheric CO2 through photosynthesis; animals consume plants and other animals; decomposers break down dead organisms; respiration releases CO2 back into the air.
- Slow Carbon Cycle: Calcium carbonate (formed from weathering rock and atmospheric CO2) is used by marine organisms for shells; when these organisms die, their shells sink and become rock; volcanic activity releases CO2 from these rocks; carbonic acid also facilitates CO2 exchange in water.
- Plant Carbon Uptake: Photosynthesis converts atmospheric CO2 into energy.
- Animal Carbon Uptake: Consuming plants, animals, or dead organisms.
- Ocean Acidification: Increased atmospheric CO2 dissolves in oceans, decreasing pH and making them more acidic.
Greenhouse Effect
- Greenhouse Gases: Primarily CO2, methane, and water vapor.
- Increased Greenhouse Effect: Higher levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
- Temperature Regulation: Greenhouse gases trap heat radiated from Earth, increasing global temperatures.
Element Carbon
- Forms of Pure Carbon: Diamond, graphite, and amorphous carbon.
- Diamond vs. Graphite: Diamond has carbon atoms connected in a tetrahedral structure; graphite has carbon atoms arranged in layered sheets.
- Amorphous Carbon: A disordered form, like charcoal.
Organic Chemistry
- Saturated Hydrocarbons: Alkanes.
- Unsaturated Hydrocarbons (double bond): Alkenes.
- Unsaturated Hydrocarbons (triple bond): Alkynes.
- Hydrocarbon Naming: Names indicate the number of carbon atoms and the presence (and type) of bonds.
Nitrogen Cycle
- Nitrogen Fixation Methods: Nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia.
- Ground Nitrogen Forms: Ammonium and nitrate.
- Nitrification/Denitrification: Nitrification is the conversion of nitrogen into nitrate; denitrification is the opposite process.
- Assimilation: Uptake of ammonium or nitrate by plant roots.
- Nitrogen in Dead Organisms: Decomposers break down dead organic matter, releasing ammonium which can be used by plants.
Phosphorus Cycle
- Phosphorus Uptake: Plants absorb phosphorus from the soil; animals consume plants; decomposers break down organic material.
- Phosphorus Uses: Essential for DNA, bones, and energy transfer in cells.
- Runoff Impact: Phosphorus runoff washes into bodies of water.
- Sedimentation: Phosphate settles at the bottom of bodies of water and becomes rock.
- Weathering: Rock breakdown releases phosphate into the soil.
Eutrophication
- Algae Blooms: Excess fertilizer runoff leads to increased nutrient levels, causing algae overgrowth.
- Algae Bloom Effects: Dense algae blooms block sunlight for aquatic plants; the water becomes toxic; oxygen levels drop as decomposers break down dead algae.
- Fertilizer Importance: Using fertilizers at recommended levels is crucial to minimize negative environmental impact.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the carbon cycle and greenhouse effect. This quiz covers both fast and slow carbon cycles, as well as the impact of greenhouse gases on global warming. Explore how plants and animals contribute to carbon uptake and the implications of ocean acidification.
