Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Effect Quiz

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.