Matter & Biogeochemical Cycles
Name: _________________________________Date: ______________________Pd: __________
All material in the universe that has mass and occupies space is called ___________________.
Atoms- smallest unit of __________________
Example: _________________
Molecules- a cluster of atoms with ____________ characteristics. Organic compounds have
___________. Inorganic compounds do not have __________________. __________________ are
organic compounds containing ONLY hydrogen and carbon.
Macromolecules are the building blocks of ________________.
1)Proteins:
2)Carbohydrates:
3) Lipids:
4) Nucleic Acids:
Acids, Bases & pH
pH: how basic or acidic a _______________________ is
pH Scale:
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Biosphere: all the planet’s living, once living and _______________________ parts of the
environment and how they interact.
1)
2)
3)
4)
Geosphere – made of all the _____________________ at and below Earth’s surface
Lithosphere – hard ___________________ just on or below the Earth’s surface
Atmosphere – gaseous envelope around the __________________________
Hydrosphere – Earth’s supply of _____________________
Biogeochemical Cycles



BIO – refer to the ______________ organisms
GEO – refers to the Earth, rock and _____________.
CHEMICAL – molecules, ________________ and atoms.
Matter ______________ through the environment. ___________________ are matter that
organisms require for life process, circulate throughout the _____________________ in
biogeochemical cycles.
Law of Conservation of Matter:
Matter can be transformed, but cannot be ____________________________ or destroyed.
WATER CYCLE
The water cycle summarizes how ________________ plays a role in our environment.
Unique properties of water:
1)
2)
3)
Label the water cycle diagram below:
Aquifers
Condensation
Evaporation
Precipitation
Surface runoff
Groundwater
Transpiration
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CARBON CYCLE
Carbon is a ______________ ___________ of life. All _____________ compounds have __________.
Carbon is essential for __________, fats, proteins, _______________ & other substances. Carbon
is gas form is ______________ ______________ & it’s a _______________ gas that helps to
maintain earth’s temperature. Carbon is stored in the ocean, atmosphere & ___________. A
place where a lot of carbon is stored is called
___________ ______________.
Pathway 1
1. Carbon moves between the atmosphere, oceans &
living things.
2. Through photosynthesis, plants use CO2 from the air
& ocean to make _____________ (organic
compound….C6H12O6)
3. A _________________ eats plants & animals that eat plants & the carbon moves
through the food webs.
4. Respiration is one way ________________ is released directly into the air.
Example: exhaling of animals
5. ______________________ of living things also returns __________ to the soil, _______
& air in the form of carbon dioxide.
Pathway 2
1. Carbon travels from ______________ things to ___________ & back to air or water where
living things will use it again.
Example: Shells of marine animals contain ______________. These shells fall to
bottom of __________ when they _______& pile up. They are covered with
sediment & compacted to form ______________ (limestone). Erosion on land
eventually dissolve the carbon containing minerals to air & water.
2. This process takes millions of years.
Pathway 3
1. This pathway involves the _______________ & ______________ of fossil fuels.
2. Oil & natural gas form from the remains of ________________ organisms.
3. After buried for a long time, a ______________change takes place & it turns them into
____________________.
4. This process takes ______________ of years.
5. When the ___________ is _______________ & we burn it. The combustion releases carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere. Then it’s available plants to use for photosynthesis.
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WAYS HUMANS ALTER THE CARBON CYCLE


Deforestation: removing trees that ____________ carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Fewer trees mean less carbon dioxide is being absorbed.
Burning of fossil fuels in industry & vehicles: Carbon is a by-product of combustion.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been rising. Some say it is
contributing to ______________ _______________.
NITROGEN CYCLE
Nitrogen is an important element in ____________ compound such as __________, DNA,
______________________ & chlorophyll. Nitrogen is the most _________________ gas in the
atmosphere. It cycles from the _________________ to ______________ ____________ & back to
__________________. But living things cannot use it in its gas form, therefore living things get
________________ from the __________.
1. Living organisms cannot use simple nitrogen molecules (NH2).
2. Living things take it in as a nitrate (NO3-).
3. Nitrate is formed when nitrogen is combined with oxygen. This process is called nitrogen
____________________.
4. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria live on root nodules of _________________ & convert the gaseous
________________ to ammonia (NH4) then to _______________(NO2 or NO3).
5. Examples of legumes: clover, peas, soybeans & alfalfa.
6. Plants use ______________ to make proteins. Animals only take in nitrogen by eating
_____________________.
7. Nitrogen flows through the __________ __________ as animals eat plants & animals eat other
animals.
8. During _____________________, nitrogen compound are released. Bacteria will break down
ammonia to nitrogen & oxygen & release ________________ back to soil and atmosphere.
9. Some aquatic bacteria and __________________ can also change nitrogen to nitrates.
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WAYS HUMANS ALTER THE NITROGEN CYCLE
The rate of nitrogen fixation has _______________ since the 1950s.
 Fertilizers: contain nitrogen…place on ________________ & farmlands
 Burning of fossil fuels: releases nitrogen during _________________________
 Destruction of forests & wetlands: release nitrogen thru _______________________
CONSEQUENCES OF HUMAN-CAUSED NITROGEN DEPOSITION
Ecosystems: Nitrogen additions to the __________can lead to changes that favor weeds over
native plants, which in turn reduce species _______________ and changes ecosystems.
Research shows that nitrogen levels are linked with changes in grassland species, from
mosses and lichens to grasses and ____________________.
Precipitation: Nitrogen oxides react with water to form nitric acid, which along with sulfur
dioxide is a major component of acid rain. Acid rain can damage and kill aquatic life and
______________, as well as corrode __________________, bridges, and other structures.
Air quality: High concentrations of _______________ in the lower atmosphere are a precursor
to tropospheric ozone, which is known to damage living tissues, including human lungs, and
decrease ________________ production.
Water quality: Adding large amounts of nitrogen to rivers, lakes, and coastal systems results in
___________________, a condition that occurs in aquatic ecosystems when _____________
nutrient concentrations stimulate blooms of __________that deplete _________, killing fish and
other organisms and ruining water quality.
PHOSPHORUS CYCLE
Phosphorus is not a ________________ and does not enter the atmosphere. Phosphorus cycles
from _______________ to ocean and then back to land. Water runs over ________ that contain
phosphorus and places it in the water and soil. Plant roots absorb ______________.
Phosphate makes up __________. Animals get phosphates thru _______. Phosphorus is release
by ____________________.
HUMAN IMPACT ON THE PHOSPHORUS CYCLE



Loss of _________________ because of clear cutting and _____________ of farmland.
When we use _____________ and detergents with phosphorus it integrates into our
groundwater.
Fertilizers
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OXYGEN CYCLE
This cycle only consists of ___________________ & respiration. Photosynthesis & respiration are
____________ reactions & they rely on each other. Plants produce ___________ through the
process of photosynthesis. Animals take in the oxygen from the _____________________ &
change it into energy & release __________________ through the process of respiration.
Photosynthesis equation:
Respiration equation
Look @ the following cycle diagrams & label which cycle it is: Carbon cycle, water cycle,
phosphorus cycle , nitrogen cycle & oxygen cycle.
_______________________________________ Cycle
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_____________________________ Cycle
Water vapor
Released by plants
(transpiration)
Precipitation
Evaporation
Runoff
water
Lake
Ground water
Water absorbed by roots
_____________________________ Cycle
Carbon
Dioxide
Carbon
Dioxide
Oxygen
Oxygen
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_____________________________ Cycle
_____________________________ Cycle
Atmospheric
free nitrogen
Denitrification
Dead
plants
Nitrate fixing Decay bacteria
bacteria in soil
Nitrates
Animal
Waste
Nitrification
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Carbon cycle
Carbon is an extremely common element on earth and can be found in all four major spheres of the
planet: biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
Carbon is part of both the living and non-living parts of the planet, as a component in organisms,
atmospheric gases, water, and rocks. The carbon contained in any of the planet’s spheres does not
remain there forever. Instead, it moves from one sphere to another in an ongoing process known as the
carbon cycle.
The carbon cycle is extremely important on earth as it influences crucial life processes such as
photosynthesis and respiration, contributes to fossil fuel formation, and impacts the earth’s climate.
Part 1: Go to the following website and read about the carbon cycle and answer the questions;
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/cgi-bin/tour_def/earth/Water/co2_cycle.html
1. Where is carbon found on the earth?
2. Carbon moves from....
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
3. Play the Carbon game. Click on the Game link at the top of the page. Scroll down and choose
The Carbon Cycle game. Answer the following questions when you are in the particular areas:
atmosphere, plants, Surface Ocean, Deep Ocean, marine life and soil.
a. Atmosphere
 What percentage of the atmosphere is made of carbon? ________%
 The more CO2 in the atmosphere makes our planet ________________.
b. Land Plants
 What is the process by which plants make the nutrition it needs? ____________
 What is the method by which plants release carbon into atmosphere? __________
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c. Soil


What is the name of the part of the soil that is made of decaying plants and
animals? _______________________
What percentage of carbon is stored in the soil? ___________%
d. Surface Ocean
 True/False: The Ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide than the land.
e. Marine Life
 Phytoplankton absorbs the carbon in the ocean to make their nutrition through the
process of __________________________.
f. Deep Ocean
 List two ways the deep ocean gets carbon. _____________________________
and ___________________________________________________.
 How much carbon does the deep ocean contain? _________%
g. How many stops can you make on your trip? _______________________________
h. Will your journey ever end? ___________________________________
i. Was everyone’s journey the same? Why not?
j. What would happen to the Carbon Cycle if we increase our burning of fossil fuels?
Part 2: Go to the following website: www.neok12.com/Carbon-Cycle.htm
a. Watch any two videos and record the titles.
1)
2)
b. Click on “Label the Diagram of the Carbon Cycle.” Complete the diagram online.
c. If you have extra time, you can click on the jigsaw puzzle or the slide puzzle.
d. Return the laptop when finished.
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Carbon cycle
Label the Carbon diagram using the following labels: Place the # in the box that matches
the label.
1) Sunlight
2) Plant respiration
3) Animal respiration
4) Car and factory emissions
5) Photosynthesis
6) Fossils & fossil fuels
11) Decay organisms
7) Ocean uptake
8) Dead organisms and waste products
9) Root respiration
10) Organic carbon
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Matter & Biogeochemical Cycles Review Worksheet
Matching: Choose the best word to match the definitions and place the letter on the line
provided.
_____1. Smallest part of an element
A. matter
_____2. Molecule only made of hydrogen and carbon
B. hydrocarbons
_____3. Solution’s acidity or basicity
C. RNA and DNA
_____4. Fats & oils
D. pH
_____5. Molecules that store genetic information
E. atom
_____6. Anything that takes up space and has mass
F. lipids
_____7. Made of amino acids
G. biosphere
_____8. Sugars & starches
H. hydrosphere
_____9. All of the Earth’s water
I. carbohydrates
_____10. The Earth and all of its organisms and environments
J. proteins
Part 2: Please label the water cycle diagram using the following vocabulary: runoff,
evaporation, precipitation, condensation, groundwater
2. List three unique properties of water.
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Part 3: Cycles Matching: Below are some descriptive statements. Read the statements
carefully and then choose which cycle is and place the letter on the line provided. Letters
may be used more than once.
A. Water cycle
C. Nitrogen cycle
E. Carbon cycle
________1.
________2.
________3.
________4.
________5.
B. Oxygen cycle
D. Phosphorus cycle
Only cycle that does not include the atmosphere
Can alter the pH of the soil
Transpiration and evaporation are a part of the cycle
Formation of fossil fuels
Bacteria that lives on the roots of legumes
Part 4: Short Answer
1. Explain the Law of the Conservation of Matter.
2. What particles make up the nucleus of an atom?
3. What is the role of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids in your body?
4. What are the two processes that are a part of the Oxygen cycle? Why is the cycle
important to us?
5. List three ways that human behavior can impact the biogeochemical cycles.
6. What is eutrophication?
7. What is the connection between legumes and the nitrogen fixing bacteria in the Nitrogen
cycles?
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SLM
Matter & Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Map (7 days)Ecology – Mrs. Sim
PA Standards
4.1.10.B – Explain the consequences of interrupting natural cycles.
4.1.12.B – Research solutions to problem caused by interrupting natural cycles.
4.1.10.E – Analyze how humans influence the pattern of natural changes
Unit Essential Question(s):
How do the nonliving parts of the
Earth’s systems provide the basic
materials to support life?
Concept
Concept
Matter
Biogeochemical Cycles
4.1.10.B & 4.1.12B
Optional
Instructional Tools:
Cycle diagrams
Carbon Cycle Poster
Traveling Nitrogen Passport
Lesson Essential Questions:
What properties
of matter are
most important
to environmental
systems?
How do nutrients
cycle through
the environment?
Vocabulary:
Vocabulary:
Matter
Atoms
Proteins
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Nucleic acids
Acids
Bases
pH
Geosphere
Lithosphere
Biosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Water cycle
Phosphorus cycle
Nitrogen cycle
Carbon cycle
Sulfur cycle
Oxygen cycle
Nitrogen fixing
Bacteria
Legumes
Eutrophication
Algal Bloom
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Matter & Biogeochemical Vocabulary:
1) Matter = any material that has mass and occupies space.
2) Atoms = the basic unit of matter, the smallest unit that maintains the properties of an element
3) Proteins = an organic compound made up of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and sometimes sulfur
4) Carbohydrates = an organic compound that consists of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
5) Lipids = an organic compound that is chemically diverse and does not dissolve in water
6) Nucleic acids = the macromolecule that contains genetic information
7) pH = a measure of the acidity or alkalinity (basicity) of a solution
8) Geosphere = all the rock at and below Earth surface
9) Lithosphere = sphere of Earth made up of the hard rock on and just below Earth surface; the outermost
layer of both Earth and its geosphere
10) Biosphere = the Earth and all of its organisms and environments
11) Atmosphere = the thin layer of gases that surrounds Earth
12) Hydrosphere = all of the water above and below Earth’s surface and in the atmosphere
13) Water cycle = series of steps of how the water cycles in the environment.
14) Phosphorus cycle = series of steps of how phosphorus cycles in the environment.
15) Nitrogen cycle = series of steps of how nitrogen cycles in the environment.
16) Carbon cycle = series of steps of how carbon cycles in the environment.
17) Sulfur cycle = series of steps of how sulfur cycles in the environment.
18) Oxygen cycle = series of steps where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide & vice versa.
19) Nitrogen fixing bacteria = bacteria that lives on the roots of legumes to help transform nitrogen
20) Eutrophication = when large amounts of nitrogen exists in water causing the water to have too many
nutrients
21) Algal Bloom = overgrowth of algae due to eutrophication ( too many nutrients/nitrogen in the water)
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