Matter and Energy Review
Chapter 3 Matter Energy and Systems
Chapter 4 Biogeochemical cycles
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Natural Capital: Sustaining Life of
Earth
 One-way flow
of energy from Sun
 Cycling of
Crucial Elements
Fig. 4-8 p.60
Solar Capital: Flow of Energy to and
from the Earth
Fig. 4-9 p. 61
The Law of Conservation of Matter
Matter is not destroyed
Matter only changes form
There is no “throw away”
Laws Governing Energy Changes
First Law of Thermodynamics (Energy)
 Energy is neither created nor destroyed
 Energy only changes form
 You can’t get something for nothing
ENERGY IN = ENERGY OUT
Laws Governing Energy Changes
Second Law of Thermodynamics
entropy
 In every transformation, some energy is
converted to heat
 You cannot break even in terms of
energy quality
Energy: Quality
High-quality
energy
Low-quality
energy
Fig. 3-12 p.46
Connections: Matter Cycling in Ecosystems
 Biogeochemical cycles
 Hydrologic cycle (H2O)
 Carbon cycle
 Nitrogen cycle
 Phosphorus cycle
 Sulfur cycle
Hydrologic (Water) Cycle
Fig. 4-28 p. 76
The Carbon Cycle (Marine)
Fig. 4-29, p. 78
The Carbon Cycle (Terrestrial)
Fig. 4-29, p. 78
The Nitrogen Cycle
Fig. 4-31 p. 80
The Phosphorus Cycle
Fig. 4-33 p. 82
The Sulfur Cycle
Fig. 4-34 p. 83
Case Study
• Hubbard Brook Experimental
Forest.
Study centered on how deforestation
affects nutrient cycles. The forest
consisted of several watersheds each
drained by a single creek. Impervious
bedrock was close to the surface,
which prevented seepage of water
from one forested hillside, valley, and
creek ecosystem to another.
• Conclusions:
An undisturbed mature forest ecosystem
is in dynamic equilibrium with respect to
chemical nutrients. Nutrients leaving
ecosystem are balanced by nutrients
entering the ecosystem.
Inflow and outflow of nutrients was low
compared to levels of nutrients being
recycled within the ecosystem.
When deforestation occurred, water
runoff increased. Consequently, soil
erosion increased which caused a large
increase in outflow of nutrients from
the ecosystem. Increase in outflow of
nutrients causes water pollution.
Nutrient loss could be reduced by
clearing trees and vegetation in
horizontal strips. Remaining vegetation
reduced soil erosion.
Matter and Energy Review
Quiz
1. The Hubbard Brook experiment demonstrated that
(A) nutrient loss could be increased by clearing trees
and vegetation in horizontal strips. The remaining
vegetation reduced soil erosion.
(B) inflow and outflow of nutrients was high compared
to levels of nutrients being recycled within the
ecosystem.
(C) when deforestation occurred, water runoff
increased. Consequently, soil erosion decreased, which
caused large increase in outflow of nutrients from the
ecosystem.
(D) an undisturbed mature forest ecosystem is in
dynamic equilibrium with respect to chemical nutrients.
Nutrients leaving the ecosystem are balanced by
nutrients entering ecosystem.
(E) all of the above
(D) In choice A, horizontal strips would help to prevent
nutrient loss through erosion. In choice B, inflow and
outflow of nutrients was stable when compared to the
level of nutrients being recycled. In choice C, soil
erosion would increase due to deforestation. Choice D
is valid only in an undisturbed forest ecosystem, which
is the premise of the choice. The Hubbard Brook
Experimental Forest in New Hampshire, the longestrunning forest-ecosystem experiment in North
America, did show that in a disturbed forest
ecosystem, one that had an input of acid rain, forest
soils became depleted of natural buffering cations such
as Ca2+ and Mg2+ over the years. Those cations were
replaced by hydrogen and aluminum cations, which
resulted in tree loss.
2. Which of the following sinks is NOT a
primary depository for the element listed?
(A) Carbon—coal
(B) Nitrogen—nitrogen gas in the
atmosphere
(C) Phosphorus—marble and
limestone
(D) Sulfur—deep ocean deposits
(E) All are correct
(C) The primary sink for phosphorus
is ocean sediment and certain
islands off South America and
the Pacific island nation of
Nauru that have or had high
amounts of bird guano.
3. Burning of fossil fuels coupled with
deforestation increases the amount of.
in the atmosphere.
(A) N02
(B) C02
(C) S02
(D) 03
(E) all of the above are correct
(B) Burning of fossil fuels releases sulfur oxides (SOx),
carbon oxides (COx.—carbon dioxide on complete
combustion, carbon monoxide on incomplete
combustion), and nitrogen oxides (NOX). Ozone is a
photochemical oxidant that is produced in a secondary
atmospheric reaction involving the formation of atomic
oxygen through splitting nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and is
not produced directly by burning fossil fuels.
Deforestation, or the removal and burning of trees and
other vegetation on a large scale (slash and burn) to
expand agricultural or grazing lands, releases primarily
carbon dioxide. Since the question said "coupled," the
gas that is common to both processes is carbon
dioxide.
4. In the nitrogen fixation cycle,
cyanobacteria in soil and water and Rhizobium
bacteria in root systems of legumes are
responsible for converting
(A) organic material to NH3 and NH4+.
(B) NH3, NH4+, and NO3- to DNA,
amino acids, and proteins.
(C) NH3 and NO2- to NO3(D) N2 and H2 to NH3.
(E) NH3 to NO2- and then to NO3-
(D) This is the first step in the
nitrogen cycle and is called
nitrogen fixation. Refer to Step 1
in the nitrogen cycle for details
on nitrogen fixation.
5. An industrial method used to
manufacture nitrogen-rich
fertilizer is known as
(A) nitrogen-fixation process
(B) Haber process
(C) ammonium conversion
(D) cracking
(E) nitrogen-enrichment
(B) The industrial production of ammonia
through the Haber process is the same
chemical reaction as nitrogen fixation:
N2 + 3H2 -» 2NH3. The differences
between the bacterial process and a
process that occurs in factories are the
pressures and temperatures required in
the industrial manufacturing. The
production of ammonia through the
Haber process ranks as one of the most
produced chemicals in the world, the
reason being the world's need for
fertilizer.
6. Nitrogen is assimilated in plants in
what form?
(A)N02(B)NH3
(C) NH4+
(D) N03(E) Choices B, C, and D
(E) The nitrite ion (NO2-) is toxic
to plants. In the nitrogen
cycle, at a step called
assimilation, plant roots can
absorb ammonia (NH3),
ammonium ion (NH4+) and
nitrate ion (NO3-).
7. Plants primarily assimilate
sulfur in what form?
(A) Sulfates
(B) Sulfites
(C) Hydrogen sulfide
(D) Sulfur dioxide
(E) Elemental sulfur
(A) Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and sulfur dioxide
(SO2) are toxic to living organisms. Most
of the sulfur in the world is stored either
in the elemental form and is extracted
using hot steam through a method called
the Frasch process or as sulfate
compounds. Some sulfate compounds
are water soluble, allowing the sulfate
anion (SO42-) to be absorbed by the
plant. Free sulfur is not soluble in water
and is not able to be absorbed. Plants
cannot effectively absorb sulfite ions
(SO32-).
8. Man increases sulfur into the
atmosphere and thereby increases acid
deposition by all of the following
activities EXCEPT
(A) industrial processing.
(B) processing (smelting) ores to
produce metals.
(C) burning coal.
(D) petroleum refining.
(E) clear-cutting.
(E) Clear cutting produces carbon
dioxide (CO2), not SOx.
9. Phosphorus is being added to the
environment by all of the following
activities EXCEPT
(A) runoff from feedlots.
(B) clear cutting in tropical
areas.
(C) stream runoff.
(D) burning coal and petroleum.
(E) mining to produce inorganic
fertilizer.
(D) Animal manure and bird guano are rich in
phosphate. In the tropics, most of the
nutrients are contained within the trees
and vegetation, with little being retained
in the soil. Phosphorus therefore would
be released back into the environment by
clear cutting. It would then be subject to
runoff. Mining phosphates for fertilizer
and industrial products takes phosphorus
out of sinks and puts it into the
environment for cycling. Burning coal
and petroleum does not add appreciable
phosphorus to the environment.
10. Carbon dioxide is a reactant in
(A) photosynthesis.
(B) cellular respiration.
(C) Haber process.
(D) nitrogen-fixation.
(E) none of the above.
(A) Photosynthesis is written as
6CO2 (g) + 12H2O (1) + Light Energy
=> C6H12O6 (aq) + 6CO2 (g) + 6H20
Cellular respiration is the reverse
reactionC6H12O6 (aq) + 6O2 (g) +
6H2O -» 6CO2 + 12H2O (1) + ATP
Energy
11. Human activity adds significant
amounts of carbon dioxide to the
atmosphere by all of the following
EXCEPT
(A) brush clearing.
(B) burning wood.
(C) burning petroleum.
(D) clear cutting.
(E) agricultural runoff.
(E) Agricultural runoff, primarily
from fertilizers and feedlots,
adds nitrates and phosphates
to streams. All other choices
involve combustion, which
produces carbon dioxide.
12. Clearing of land for either
habitation or agriculture does all of
the following EXCEPT
(A) increases runoff.
(B) increases flood risks.
(C) increases potential for
landslides.
(D) increases infiltration.
(E) accelerates soil erosion.
(D) Infiltration is the movement of water into the
soil. Removing vegetation decreases
infiltration by not allowing water to percolate
slowly through the soil. Removing vegetation
will increase runoff since water cannot be
absorbed by the soil fast enough. Since runoff
is increased, the potential for floods increase.
Since floods and runoff increase, the soil can
become saturated and lose its integrity and
result in a landslide. Runoff carries with it
topsoil and nutrients thus accelerating soil
erosion.
13. All the following have an impact on
the nitrogen cycle EXCEPT
(A) the application of inorganic
fertilizers applied to the soil.
(B) the action of aerobic bacteria
acting on livestock wastes.
(C) the overplanting of nitrogenrich crops.
(D) the discharge of municipal
sewage.
(E) the burning of most fuels.
(B) The bacteria that "digest" livestock wastes
are anaerobes and operate only in anaerobic
environments (no free oxygen). They produce
nitrous oxide (N2O). Other bacteria can be used
to generate methane gas from animal manure in
what is known as a "digester." In this process,
anaerobic digestion is a two-part process and
each part is performed by a specific group of
organisms. The first part is the breakdown of
complex organic matter (manure) into simple
organic compounds by acid-forming
bacteria. The second group of microorganisms,
the methane formers, break down the acids
into methane and carbon dioxide. This
methane gas can then be used for heating.
Inorganic fertilizers lose up to 80% of their
nitrogen to the atmosphere through
denitrification caused by bacterial action.
Municipal sewage and nitrogen-rich crops
release nitrogen into the environment.
Burning most fuels assumes that fossil
fuels, which produce (NOx), are included.
14. A macronutrient essential to the
formation of proteins.
15. A micronutrient that is a component of
several enzymes and involved in
enzymatic reduction of nitrates to
ammonia. It assists in conversion of
inorganic phosphate to organic form. In
plants, it improves nodule formation and
fixation of nitrogen. It assists protein
formation and is required for the synthesis
and activity of the enzyme nitrate
reductase (reduces nitrates to ammonium
in the plant.)
MACRONUTRIENTS (MAKE UP MORE THAN 0.2% OF DRY WEIGHT)
Role
Nutrient
Calcium
Principal skeletal mineral in bones and teeth, muscle contraction and relaxation, nerve function, intracellular
regulation, extracellular enzyme cofactor, blood clotting, and blood pressure. Involved in formation of cell walls.
Participates in translocation of sugars. In plants, it improves fruit and nut formation. Root and leaf development.
Involved in uptake of other nutrients. Improves postharvest quality of fruits and vegetables. Aids in the control of
certain fungal and bacterial diseases.
Carbon
Forms carbohydrates with oxygen and hydrogen. Carbon is a major component of organic molecules, which are
the building blocks of all organisms.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is a major component of organic molecules, which are the building blocks of all organisms.
Nitrogen
Involved in making proteins.
Oxygen
Oxygen is a major component of organic molecules, which are the building blocks of all organisms.
Phosphorus
Acid-base balance, DNA/RNA structure, energy, and enzyme cofactor. Found in every cell.
Potassium
Protein synthesis, fluid balance, muscle contraction, and nerve transmission.
Sodium
Acid-base balance and fluid retention. Involved in nerve impulse transmission.
Sulfur
Component of biotin, thiamin, insulin, and some amino acids. Involved in formation of nodules and chlorophyll
synthesis; a structural component of amino acids and enzymes. In plants, it improves cold resistance and disease
resistance. Assists decomposition of crop residue. Involved hi protein formation and uptake of other nutrients.
MICRONUTRIENTS OR TRACE ELEMENTS (MAKE UP LESS THAN 0.2% OF DRY WEIGHT)
Nutrient
Role
Aluminum
A micronutrient required for proper development and growth in plants. Requirements in human nutrition have
not been established.
Boron
Involved in formation of cell walls, terminal buds, and pollen tubes, Participates in regulation of starch
production and translocation of sugars and starches. In plants, it improves quality and disease resistance.
Involved in seed, flower, and fruit formation.
Chlorine
Fluid balance, aids digestion in stomach.
Chromium
Energy release, sugar and fat metabolism, potentiates the action of \ insulin.
Cobalt
As a component of vitamin B12, aids in nerve function and blood formation.
Copper
Absorption of iron, part of many enzymes. Involved in photosynthetic and respiration systems. Assists
chlorophyll synthesis and used as reaction catalyst. In plants, it improves nitrogen utilization. Involved in
protein formation and root metabolism
Fluorine
Bone and teeth formation; decreases dental caries.
Iodine
Component of the hormone thyroxin, which aids in metabolism regulation and fetal development.
Iron
Hemoglobin formation in red blood cells, myoglobin formation in muscle, oxygen carrier, energy utilization.
Involved in respiration and chlorophyll synthesis. In plants, it improves plant appearance. Required for
vigorous growth.
Magnesium
Bone mineralization, protein synthesis, enzymatic reactions, muscular
contraction, nerve transmission. Involved in photosynthetic and
respiration system. Active in uptake of phosphate and translocation of
phosphate and starches. In plants, it improves seed production and
formation of seed oil and fat. Involved in uptake of other nutrients.
Manganese
Involved in regulation of enzymes and growth hormones. Assists in
photosynthesis and respiration. In plants, it improves germination and
hastens maturity. Involved in uptake of carbon, magnesium, and
phosphorous. Manganese is important in resistance development to
both root and foliar diseases caused by fungi.
Molybdenum
Component of a several enzymes and involved in enzymatic reduction
of nitrates to ammonia. Assists in conversion of inorganic phosphate
to organic form. In plants, it improves nodule formation and fixation
of nitrogen. Assists protein formation. Required for the synthesis and
activity of the enzyme nitrate reductase (reduces nitrates to
ammonium in the plant).
Selenium
Protects against oxidation.
MICRONUTRIENTS OR TRACE ELEMENTS (MAKE UP LESS THAN 0.2% OF DRY WEIGHT) (continued)
Role
Nutrient
Silicon
Promotes the synthesis of collagen and formation of bone.
Vanadium
Involved in enzyme activities in the body.
Zinc
Transport of vitamin A, taste, wound healing, sperm production, fetal
development. Plays a part in many enzymes, hormones (insulin),
genetic material, and proteins. Involved in production of growth
hormones and chlorophyll. Active in respiration and carbohydrate
synthesis. In plants, it improves plant appearance, seed production and
absorption of water. Involved in protein and carbohydrate formation.
Energy Multiple-Choice
Questions
16. Which of the following forms of
energy is a renewable resource?
(A) Synthetic oil
(B) Breeder fission
(C) Biomass
(D) Oil shale
(E) Synthetic natural gas
(C) Renewable resources are those
resources that theoretically will last
indefinitely either because they are
replaced naturally at a higher rate than
they are consumed or because their
source is essentially inexhaustible.
Biomass can either be the burning of
wood and agricultural wastes or urban
wastes that can be incinerated.
17. Which of the following forms of energy
has a low long-term (next 50 years) estimated
availability?
(A) Low-temperature heating from
solar energy
(B) Synthetic oil and alcohols from
coal
(C) Photovoltaic production of
electricity
(D) Coal
(E) Petroleum
(E) At the current rate of
consumption, global oil reserves
are only expected to last another
45 to 50 years. With projections
of increased consumption in the
near future, this figure will be
even lower.
18. Which of the following forms of
energy is characteristic of having
high net useful energy?
(A) Tar sands
(B) Wind energy
(C) Fission
(D) Synthetic natural gas
(E) Geothermal energy
(B) Net useful energy is defined as the
total amount of useful energy available
from an energy resource over its lifetime
minus the amount of energy used (first
law of thermodynamics), wasted (second
law of thermodynamics), and used in
processing and transporting it to the enduser. Wind energy is essentially an
unlimited resource in favorable sites.
19. Which of the following alternatives would not
lead to a sustainable energy future?
(A) Phase out nuclear power subsidies.
(B) Create policies to encourage
governments to purchase renewable energy
devices.
(C) Assess penalties or taxes on continued
use of coal and oil.
(D) Decrease fuel-efficiency standards for
cars, appliances, and HVAC systems.
(E) Create tax incentives for independent
power producers.
(D) The key word in the question is
"not." To foster a sustainable energy
future, one would have to increase
fuel-efficiency standards for cars,
appliances, and HVAC (heating,
ventilation and air-conditioning)
systems.
20. At today's rate of consumption,
known U.S. oil reserves will be
depleted
(A) in approximately 100 years.
(B) in approximately 50 years.
(C) in approximately 25 years.
(D) in approximately 10 years.
(E) in approximately 3 years.
(C) World oil demand is increasing
at a rate of about 2% per year.
Known U.S. oil reserves are
projected to last about another 25
years. Potential reserves (Alaskan
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for
example) might extend the estimate
another 25 years.
21. Which country currently ranks
number one in both coal reserves
and use of coal as an energy source?
(A) Russia
(B) United States
(C) China
(D) India
(E) Brazil
(C) China gets approximately 75%
of its energy from coal. Coal
supplies over half of the fuel
source to generate electricity in
the United States. Utilities are
the largest users of coal in the
United States.
22. The lowest average generating
cost (cents per kilowatt-hour) comes
from what energy source?
(A) Large hydroelectric
facilities
(B) Geothermal
(C) Nuclear
(D) Solar photovoltaics
(E) Coal
(A) Nonrenewable resources of energy (natural
gas, oil, etc.) have had recent and dramatic price
increases which have resulted in major increases
in the cost of electricity. In the United States, this
began in 2001 in California. Renewable
resources of energy (hydroelectric and wind)
provide the least expensive energy source for
producing electricity. With increases in
technology and production, wind energy is
expected to be competitive in price with energy
supplied by hydroelectric power plants.
23. The fastest-growing renewable
energy resource today is
(A) nuclear energy.
(B) coal.
(C) wind.
(D) large scale hydroelectric plants.
(E) geothermal energy.
(C) During the 1990s, wind power
experienced a growth of 22% per year. Wind
power supplies less than 2% of the energy
used in the United States, primarily because it
is a new industry. The country that is the
largest user of wind power is Denmark, with
8% of its electricity being generated by the
wind. Germany, Spain, and India are also
large wind power users. China has enough
potential wind power sites (especially in Inner
Mongolia) to provide all that country's
electricity needs.
24. The least efficient energy
conversion device listed is the
(A) steam turbine
(B) fuel cell
(C) fluorescent light
(D) incandescent light
(E) internal combustion engine
(D) An incandescent light bulb is
only 5% efficient, as compared to a
fluorescent light at around 22%
efficiency. A hydrogen fuel cell is
approximately 60% efficient. The
average current internal combustion
engine, fueled by gasoline, is around
10% efficient. The United States
wastes as much energy each day as
two thirds of the world consumes.
25. Which is NOT an advantage of
using nuclear fusion?
(A) Abundant fuel supply
(B) No generation of weaponsgrade material
(C) No air pollution
(D) No high-level nuclear waste
or generation of weapons
material
(E) All are advantages.
(E) The major fuel used in fusion reactors,
deuterium, could be readily extracted from
ordinary water, which is available to all nations.
The surface waters of the Earth contain more than
10 million million tons of deuterium, an
essentially inexhaustible supply. The tritium
required would be produced from lithium, which
is available from land deposits or from seawater
that contains thousands of years' supply. The
worldwide availability of these materials would
thus eliminate many current international tensions
caused by an imbalance in fuel supply. The amounts of
deuterium and tritium in the fusion reaction zone would be
so small that a large uncontrolled release of energy would
be impossible. In the event of a malfunction, the plasma
would strike the walls of its containment vessel and cool.
Since no fossil fuels are used, there would be no release of
chemical combustion products because they would not be
produced. Similarly, there would be no fission products
formed to present a handling and disposal problem.
Radioactivity would be produced by neutrons interacting
with the reactor structure, but careful materials selection
would be expected to minimize the handling and ultimate
disposal of activated materials. And finally, the materials
and by-products of fusion are not suitable for use in the
production of nuclear weapons.
26. Given the following choices,
which one has the greatest ability to
perform useful work (high-quality
energy)?
(A) Coal
(B) Oil
(C) Solar
(D) Wind
(E) Electricity
(E) High-quality energy is defined as
energy that is intense, concentrated and
capable of performing useful work. Lowquality energy is diffused, dispersed, and
low in temperature. Coal and oil have
waste products, which means they are
not totally concentrated. Solar and wind
are diffuse, and the energy produced
from them at this time is relatively low
power. Electricity is pure, concentrated
energy.
27. Only about 10% of the potential energy of
gasoline is used in powering an automobile. The
remaining energy is lost into space as lowquality heat. This is an example of the
(A) First Law of Thermodynamics.
(B) Second Law of Thermodynamics.
(C) Law of Conservation of Energy.
(D) first-law efficiency.
(E) second-law efficiency.
(B) The Second Law of Energy or
Thermodynamics states that when energy
is changed from one form to another,
some of the useful energy is always
degraded to lower-quality, moredispersed (higher-entropy), and lessuseful form of energy.
28. The Law of Conservation of Mass and Energy
states that matter can neither be created nor
destroyed and that the total energy of an isolated
system is constant despite internal changes. Which
society offers the best long-term solution to the
constraints of this law?
(A) Low-throughput society
(B) High-throughput society
(C) Matter-recycling society
(D) Free-market society
(E) Global market society
(A) A low-throughput society also known as a
low-waste society or Earth-Wisdom society
focuses on matter and energy efficiency. The
society accomplishes this by
• Reusing and recycling nonrenewable matter
resources,
• Using potentially renewable resources no
faster than they are replenished,
• Using matter and energy resources efficiently,
• Reducing unnecessary consumption,
• Emphasizing pollution prevention and waste
reduction,
• Controlling population growth.
29. Which of the following methods
CANNOT be used to produce
hydrogen gas?
(A) Reforming
(B) Thermolysis
(C) Producing it from plants
(D) Coal gasification
(E) All are methods of
producing hydrogen gas
(E) Reforming is a chemical process of
splitting water molecules. Thermolysis
uses extremely high temperatures to
break water molecules apart. Hydrogen
gas can be produced from algae by
depriving the algae of oxygen and sulfur.
Coal gasification is the conversion of
coal into synthetic natural gas (SNG).
The SNG can then be converted into
hydrogen gas.
30. Energy derived from fossil
fuels supplies what percent of the
world's energy needs?
(A) 10%
(B) 33%
(C) 50%
(D) 85%
(E) 97%
(D) Oil supplies approximately 36%,
coal around 26%, and natural gas
around 23%. The remaining 15% of
the world's energy comes from (a)
nuclear, solar, wind and hydropower
at a total of around 9%; and (b)
wood, peat, charcoal, and biomass at
around
a total of 6%.