Need kopo ng answer? What I Know Unscramble each of the letters below to reveal the cycle being described. Write your answer in your activity notebook: DESCRIPTION SCRAMBLED ANSWER LETTERS There are natural BIOGEOCHEMICAL occurrences that happen in our ecosystem which are responsible in the cycling of materials available to living organisms for their maintenance and survival. The cycle involves the NITROGEN process of lightning; nitrogen fixation, ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification. The cycle involves the WATER process of evaporation, transpiration, condensation, and precipitation. The cycle involves the CARBON-OXYGEN process of photosynthesis and respiration. The cycle involves the PHOSPHORUS process of weathering, erosion, and by the action of phosphatizing bacteria. The cycle involves the SULFUR process of decomposition, combustion of fossil fuel, and volcanic eruption.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Of course. Here are the correct answers to the “What I Know” activity, followed by a detailed, textbook-style explanation of each biogeochemical cycle.
Correct Answers
- BIOGEOCHEMICAL
- NITROGEN
- WATER
- CARBON-OXYGEN
- PHOSPHORUS
- SULFUR
Explanation of Biogeochemical Cycles
The answers you have provided correctly identify the fundamental cycles that sustain life on Earth. These processes are collectively known as biogeochemical cycles, the comprehensive term described in the first item. This term refers to the pathway by which a chemical element or molecule moves through both the biotic (living, or bio-) and abiotic (non-living, or geo-) components of an ecosystem. These cycles are essential for recycling the finite matter on our planet, making vital nutrients available for organisms.
The Nitrogen Cycle is the process by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms. The atmosphere is 78% nitrogen gas (N₂), but most organisms cannot use it directly. The cycle begins with nitrogen fixation, where lightning or specialized bacteria convert N₂ into ammonia (NH₃). Through ammonification and nitrification, other bacteria convert this into nitrates (NO₃⁻), which plants can absorb. Denitrification completes the cycle, as denitrifying bacteria return nitrogen gas to the atmosphere.
The Water Cycle, or hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. The primary drivers are solar energy and gravity. Water on the surface undergoes evaporation (turning to vapor), while plants release vapor through transpiration. This vapor rises, cools, and undergoes condensation to form clouds. When the water droplets become heavy enough, precipitation occurs, returning water to the Earth’s surface.
The Carbon-Oxygen Cycle represents the codependent circulation of carbon and oxygen. Photosynthesis is the cornerstone, where plants and algae use carbon dioxide (CO₂) and sunlight to create food, releasing oxygen (O₂) as a byproduct. Cellular respiration is the reverse process, where organisms take in oxygen to break down food for energy, releasing carbon dioxide as waste.
The Phosphorus Cycle is a slow, sedimentary cycle. It begins with the weathering and erosion of rocks, which releases phosphates into soil and water. Plants absorb these phosphates, which are then transferred to animals through the food chain. Decomposers, including phosphatizing bacteria, return phosphorus to the soil from waste and dead organisms, making it available again.
Finally, the Sulfur Cycle involves the movement of sulfur between rocks, waterways, and living systems. Key sources that release sulfur into the atmosphere include volcanic eruptions, the combustion of fossil fuels, and the decomposition of organic matter. This atmospheric sulfur returns to the surface through precipitation, where it is utilized by microorganisms and plants.
