Prepared by Suleyman Soyel Carbon and Nitrogen Cycle.

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Carbon and Nitrogen Carbon and Nitrogen CycleCycle

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Carbon CycleCarbon Cycle

Carbon is the Carbon is the 66thth element element in the periodic table. in the periodic table. It is one of the most common element in It is one of the most common element in organic molecules.organic molecules.

The structure and the shape of a pure The structure and the shape of a pure carbon atom is like a soccer-ball which is carbon atom is like a soccer-ball which is shown below;shown below;

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Where do we find Carbon?Where do we find Carbon?

Carbon can be found in the air as Carbon Carbon can be found in the air as Carbon dioxide gas. Carbon dioxide gas is highly dioxide gas. Carbon dioxide gas is highly soluble in water, due to this property it can soluble in water, due to this property it can be found in seas, lakes, ponds, etc. be found in seas, lakes, ponds, etc.

In addition, Carbon also can be found in In addition, Carbon also can be found in solid forms, such as solid forms, such as graphitegraphite..

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How can we recycle carbon How can we recycle carbon dioxide?dioxide?

Carbon dioxide is recycled in the carbon Carbon dioxide is recycled in the carbon cycle. Carbon cycle is a combination of cycle. Carbon cycle is a combination of processes which keeps atmospheric processes which keeps atmospheric carbon dioxide level constant. Carbon carbon dioxide level constant. Carbon cycle is consist of four basic processes;cycle is consist of four basic processes;

1)Photosynthesis,1)Photosynthesis,2)Respiration,2)Respiration,3)Decay of death organisms, and3)Decay of death organisms, and4)Combustion.4)Combustion.

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How the carbon cycle works?How the carbon cycle works?

Carbon is only able to get into Carbon is only able to get into ecosystems by the help of the plants. The ecosystems by the help of the plants. The photosynthesis process which is carried photosynthesis process which is carried out by plants, absorbs the COout by plants, absorbs the CO2 2 from the air from the air and transforms it into carbon based and transforms it into carbon based compounds. For example, glucose which compounds. For example, glucose which has a molecular formula of Chas a molecular formula of C66HH1212OO6 6 ..

6CO6CO22 + 6 H + 6 H22O → CO → C66HH1212OO66 + 6O + 6O22

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The animals obtain their carbon by either The animals obtain their carbon by either eating plants or other animals. eating plants or other animals.

Decomposers (detritivores), get their Decomposers (detritivores), get their carbon from death and decaying organisms carbon from death and decaying organisms by digesting them. Feeding on dead by digesting them. Feeding on dead materials is known as saprobiontic nutrition. materials is known as saprobiontic nutrition. Fungi and other soil microbes can be Fungi and other soil microbes can be examples for decomposers.examples for decomposers.

Dead animals, plants and other living Dead animals, plants and other living organisms, turn into fossils where there is organisms, turn into fossils where there is no decomposers around (deep oceans). no decomposers around (deep oceans). The conversation of carbon into fossil fuels The conversation of carbon into fossil fuels take long time like millions of years.take long time like millions of years.

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““Return of the carbon” into the Return of the carbon” into the atmosphereatmosphere

Carbon turns into the atmosphere by two Carbon turns into the atmosphere by two basic process;basic process;

1)Respiration1)Respiration

2)Combustion (burning of fossil fuels)2)Combustion (burning of fossil fuels)

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Plants, animals and other living organisms do Plants, animals and other living organisms do respiration in order to survive. The respiration respiration in order to survive. The respiration causes release of COcauses release of CO22 into the atmosphere. into the atmosphere.

Other way of releasing COOther way of releasing CO22 into the into the

atmosphere is the burning down of fossil fuels atmosphere is the burning down of fossil fuels by factories, cars, etc. by factories, cars, etc. (click)(click)

The release of COThe release of CO22 is important for plants to is important for plants to

do photosynthesis. On the other hand, excess do photosynthesis. On the other hand, excess amount of COamount of CO22 in the atmosphere can cause in the atmosphere can cause

harmful effects.harmful effects.

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How the carbon amount increases How the carbon amount increases in the air?in the air?

The carbon concentration is increasing day by The carbon concentration is increasing day by day. The most important variable for this is day. The most important variable for this is humans! We burn huge quantities of fossil fuels humans! We burn huge quantities of fossil fuels by using cars, buses, etc. In addition, cutting by using cars, buses, etc. In addition, cutting down of large areas of forest is another down of large areas of forest is another important variable for the increase of carbon in important variable for the increase of carbon in the air. the air.

As a result of these actions, carbon level in the As a result of these actions, carbon level in the air is getting higher than it is expected.air is getting higher than it is expected.

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Harms of high amount of carbon in Harms of high amount of carbon in the air!the air!

The harms of high amount of carbon in the The harms of high amount of carbon in the atmosphere are;atmosphere are;

1)Causes acid rains1)Causes acid rains

2)Global warming.2)Global warming.

3)Causes Air pollution.3)Causes Air pollution.

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NitrogenNitrogen

Nitrogen is the 7Nitrogen is the 7thth element in the periodic element in the periodic table,table, next to carbon.next to carbon.

Nitrogen is found in the atmosphere as NNitrogen is found in the atmosphere as N2 2

gasgas molecules molecules. In living organisms, . In living organisms, nitrogen can be found in the structure of nitrogen can be found in the structure of proteins, amino acids, etc.proteins, amino acids, etc.

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Why do plants and animals need Why do plants and animals need nitrogen?nitrogen?

Animals and plants require nitrogen for Animals and plants require nitrogen for protein and nucleic acid production. protein and nucleic acid production. However, they can not take nitrogen gas However, they can not take nitrogen gas directly from atmosphere. Only special directly from atmosphere. Only special kind of bacteria can absorb Nkind of bacteria can absorb N22 gas and gas and use it.use it.

As a result of this; plants, animals are As a result of this; plants, animals are dependent to the nitrogen cycle which dependent to the nitrogen cycle which involves conversion of Ninvolves conversion of N22 gas into nitrates. gas into nitrates.

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Nitrogen cycleNitrogen cycle

The gaseous nitrogen is The gaseous nitrogen is absorbed from absorbed from atmosphere by nitrogen atmosphere by nitrogen fixing bacteria in roots of fixing bacteria in roots of legumes; e.g. legumes; e.g. White White Clover, Clover, Trifolium repens Trifolium repens have nitrogen-fixing have nitrogen-fixing bacteria attached to its bacteria attached to its roots.roots.

There are also free living There are also free living nitrogen fixing bacteria nitrogen fixing bacteria which do not require any which do not require any plant to live with and do plant to live with and do especially the same especially the same function with others.function with others.

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Nitrogen-fixing Nitrogen-fixing bacteria converts Nbacteria converts N22

into ammonium ions into ammonium ions (NH(NH44

++)) There are other There are other

organisms such as organisms such as decomposers decomposers (bacteria, fungi) that (bacteria, fungi) that converts N into converts N into ammonium in dead ammonium in dead animals and plants by animals and plants by a process called a process called ammonificationammonification..

However there is one However there is one more way to restore more way to restore the ammonium ions in the ammonium ions in the soil;the soil;

By precipitation, By precipitation, thundersthunders restore a restore a small amount of the small amount of the ammonium in the soil.ammonium in the soil.

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The next step is the conversion of The next step is the conversion of ammoniumammonium into nitrites (NO into nitrites (NO22

--). This ). This process is known as nitrification which is process is known as nitrification which is carried out by a bacteria known as carried out by a bacteria known as nitrifying bacterianitrifying bacteria..

Then Nitrogen fixing bacteria converts Then Nitrogen fixing bacteria converts nitrites into nitrate salts (NOnitrites into nitrate salts (NO33

--)which can be )which can be absorbed by plants.absorbed by plants.

Plants are able to absorb nitrate salts from Plants are able to absorb nitrate salts from the soil for protein synthesis, nucleic acid the soil for protein synthesis, nucleic acid synthesis, amino acid synthesis, etc.synthesis, amino acid synthesis, etc.

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Turning back to atmosphere…Turning back to atmosphere…

Nitrates turn back to atmosphere by Nitrates turn back to atmosphere by denitrification process. This process is denitrification process. This process is carried out by a special kind of bacteria carried out by a special kind of bacteria which lwhich liives in the soil, known as ves in the soil, known as denitrifying bacteria.denitrifying bacteria.

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Nitrogen level in the atmosphereNitrogen level in the atmosphere

Nitrogen gas occupies 78.1% of the atmosphere. Nitrogen gas occupies 78.1% of the atmosphere. It is the most common gas in the atmosphere.It is the most common gas in the atmosphere.

An increase in nitrogen level can causeAn increase in nitrogen level can cause long long term damage to plant communities and may be term damage to plant communities and may be the more serious problem about increased the more serious problem about increased nitrogen is that it decreases species diversity nitrogen is that it decreases species diversity and dramatically changes community and dramatically changes community composition. composition.

For example; a twelve year study of Minnesota For example; a twelve year study of Minnesota grasslands showed that species richness grasslands showed that species richness declined by 50 percent and bunch grasses were declined by 50 percent and bunch grasses were replaced by weedy grasses.replaced by weedy grasses.

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What can we do about it?What can we do about it?

What can we do to reduce the excess What can we do to reduce the excess amount of nitrogen in the air is to;amount of nitrogen in the air is to;

Use filtration for fossil fuel burning in Use filtration for fossil fuel burning in vehicles.vehicles.

Assess a port fee for pollution loading as Assess a port fee for pollution loading as ship traffic is a major source of pollutants.ship traffic is a major source of pollutants.

Spreading nitrogen absorbers into water Spreading nitrogen absorbers into water sources or soil in order to mitigate nitrogen sources or soil in order to mitigate nitrogen pollution. pollution.

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THE ENDTHE END

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