Cycles of Matter Chapter 21- Section 2

Matter is limited- must be recycled and reused! Matter includes: water carbon nitrogen oxygen And others Matter is limited- must be recycled and reused!

The Water Cycle The processes of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation make up the water cycle Evaporation: liquid water absorbs energy and changes to a gas Energy is from the heat of the sun

Precipitation: rain, snow, sleet, hail Condensation: water vapor (gas) turns back into a liquid (water droplets) Droplets form clouds Precipitation: rain, snow, sleet, hail

The Carbon Cycle Producers take in carbon dioxide gas from the air during photosynthesis Use carbon to make food (sugars) Consumers eat producers and release carbon dioxide and water as waste When producers and consumers die, decomposers break down their remains and return carbon to the soil

The Oxygen Cycle Producers release oxygen as a result of photosynthesis Organisms take in oxygen (from air or water)

Human Impact Our activities impact the levels of carbon and oxygen Burning fuels release carbon dioxide Removing trees= fewer producers to absorb carbon dioxide

The Nitrogen Cycle Moves from air  soil  living things  back into the air Air is 78% nitrogen gas, however most organisms cannot use it until it has been “fixed” Fixed means it has been combined with other elements…process called nitrogen fixation, performed by bacteria