1. Section 3 Cycling of Matter
Chapter 2
Section 3
Cycling of Matter

2. Cycling of Matter Law of conservation of matter –
Matter cannot be created or destroyed
For this reason we need to cycle matter so it can me usable in the biosphere.
These cycles are called biogeochemical processes
Matter – is anything that takes up space and has mass (and provides nutrients

3. Water Cycle The water cycle is traced through:
Surface water (lakes, streams, oceans, glaciers, ice caps, even puddles)
Atmosphere (clouds, humidity)
Underground (aquifers)

4. Water Cycle Evaporation – Condensation – Transpirations –
Water constantly evaporates into the atmosphere from bodies of water, soil and organisms
Condensation –
Water vapor starts to cool in the atmosphere, which brings together water molecules into clouds
Transpirations –
Plants give of water as a byproduct of photosynthesis
Precipitation –
Once water condenses, it falls back to earth through rain, snow, sleet, hail.

5. Water Cycle

6. Carbon & Oxygen Cycle
All living organisms are composed of molecules that contain Carbon.
Carbohydrates, proteins and fats
Oxygen is another important element in many of life's processes, such as:
Respirations & photosynthesis

7. Carbon & Oxygen Cycle
Photosynthesis – green plants convert CO2 (carbon dioxide) and H2O (water) into Carbohydrates.
They also release O2 (breathable oxygen) back into the atmosphere.
Cellular Respirations – is the process where
O2 (breathable oxygen) is used by heterotrophs and CO2 (carbon dioxide) is recycled back into the atmosphere.

8. Carbon & Oxygen Cycle Fossil Fuels – is a form of trapped Carbon
It can be trapped form really long periods of time.
When dead organisms are buried, they convert to:
Peat, Coal, Oil or gas deposits
Limestone Rock – is also a form of trapped Carbon
Weathering and erosion are processes that can release Carbon and Oxygen

9. Carbon & Oxygen Cycle

10. Carbon & Oxygen Cycle

11. Carbon & Oxygen Cycle

12. Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen is an element found in all proteins.
We have lots of Nitrogen in our atmosphere.
However it is not usable in that form
We need bacteria to capture it in its gas form
These bacteria usually live in the water, soil or on the roots of plants
The process of capturing and converting the Nitrogen to a usable form is called Nitrogen Fixation.

13. Nitrogen Cycle Once the Nitrogen Fixation process is complete:
Producers (like plants) absorb the usable Nitrogen and convert it into Proteins.
Animals then eat the plants or eat animals that ate the plants, and they are able to then reuse it to make it into other proteins.

14. Nitrogen Cycle When organisms die or produce waste:
Nitrogen is returned to the soil
A certain type of bacteria are needed called Nitrifying Bacteria
These nitrifying bacteria convert the nitrogen back to a form that plants can use once again.

15. Nitrogen Cycle If Fixed (usable) Nitrogen is NOT used:
It is converted back to nitrogen gas and released into the atmosphere
This process is called Denitrification
The bacteria that do this are called Denitrifying Bacteria

16. Nitrogen Cycle - general

17. Nitrogen Cycle - specific