Nitrogen and Phosphorous Notes
1: What percent of nitrogen and phosphorus are in an animal’s body? Note: We are considered to be animals too!
3% Nitrogen, 1% Phosphorus
2: What do we need Nitrogen to make?
We need nitrogen to make Proteins, DNA, RNA, Etc.
3: What do we need Phosphorus to make?
We need phosphorus to make RNA and DNA, as well as other things in out body.
4: What percentage of the atmosphere is Nitrogen? What form is atmospheric Nitrogen in?
78% of the atmosphere is made of Nitrogen; To nitrogen atoms connected with a triple bond.
5: What is the chemical formula for Nitrate? __________ Nitrite? _________ Ammonium? ___________
NO3-; NO2-; and NH4+
6: What is Nitrogen Fixation?
Basically fixed nitrogen that plants uses.
7: What are Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria?
Bacteria that lies within the plant, water, or soil.
8: What plants are in the Legumes Family? What does it mean that they form a symbiotic relationship?
Soybeans, clover, peanuts, etc; All of them are alike in their own way, connected to one another.
9: What form of Nitrogen is usable by plants? What enzyme makes it useful?
Ammonium is usable to plants. Nitrogenase is the enzyme that makes it useful.
10: What does Nitrifying bacteria do?
Nitrifying bacteria turns ammonium into nitrites and nitrates.
11: What other things can break Nitrogen molecules apart?
Lightning and synthetic fertilizers.
12: What is Denitrifying bacteria? Which enzyme does this?
Bacteria that turns nitrogen oxides into nitrogen gas. Nitrate reductase is the enzyme that does this.
13: What is special about the Phosphorus Cycle?
It doesn't involve the atmosphere.
14: What is the Lithosphere? What special type of rock is rich in Phosphorus?
Earth Crust; sedimentary rocks/rich rocks.
15: What is a lithotroph?
Bacteria that eats rich rocks/sedimentary rocks.
16: How do Phosphates end up in the water? In the Soil?
Phosphates are eroded and dissolved into the water/land.
17: A single Phosphorus atom can get trapped in a cycle for how long?
A long time, hundred thousand years.
18: Diagram the Phosphorus Cycle below:
3% Nitrogen, 1% Phosphorus
2: What do we need Nitrogen to make?
We need nitrogen to make Proteins, DNA, RNA, Etc.
3: What do we need Phosphorus to make?
We need phosphorus to make RNA and DNA, as well as other things in out body.
4: What percentage of the atmosphere is Nitrogen? What form is atmospheric Nitrogen in?
78% of the atmosphere is made of Nitrogen; To nitrogen atoms connected with a triple bond.
5: What is the chemical formula for Nitrate? __________ Nitrite? _________ Ammonium? ___________
NO3-; NO2-; and NH4+
6: What is Nitrogen Fixation?
Basically fixed nitrogen that plants uses.
7: What are Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria?
Bacteria that lies within the plant, water, or soil.
8: What plants are in the Legumes Family? What does it mean that they form a symbiotic relationship?
Soybeans, clover, peanuts, etc; All of them are alike in their own way, connected to one another.
9: What form of Nitrogen is usable by plants? What enzyme makes it useful?
Ammonium is usable to plants. Nitrogenase is the enzyme that makes it useful.
10: What does Nitrifying bacteria do?
Nitrifying bacteria turns ammonium into nitrites and nitrates.
11: What other things can break Nitrogen molecules apart?
Lightning and synthetic fertilizers.
12: What is Denitrifying bacteria? Which enzyme does this?
Bacteria that turns nitrogen oxides into nitrogen gas. Nitrate reductase is the enzyme that does this.
13: What is special about the Phosphorus Cycle?
It doesn't involve the atmosphere.
14: What is the Lithosphere? What special type of rock is rich in Phosphorus?
Earth Crust; sedimentary rocks/rich rocks.
15: What is a lithotroph?
Bacteria that eats rich rocks/sedimentary rocks.
16: How do Phosphates end up in the water? In the Soil?
Phosphates are eroded and dissolved into the water/land.
17: A single Phosphorus atom can get trapped in a cycle for how long?
A long time, hundred thousand years.
18: Diagram the Phosphorus Cycle below:
19: What are the main ingredients in fertilizers?
Nitrogen and phosphorus.
20: Why is too much of Nitrogen and Phosphorus bad for the environment?
Because too much of anything is not good. In this case, too much of nitrogen or phosphorus is bad for the ecosystem.
Nitrogen and phosphorus.
20: Why is too much of Nitrogen and Phosphorus bad for the environment?
Because too much of anything is not good. In this case, too much of nitrogen or phosphorus is bad for the ecosystem.