The Phosphorous Cycle
The phosphorous cycle
Done By: Jamila Richardson and Janice Foster
Teacher: Mr. Hunter
School: Quality Academics
Table of contents
What is the Phosphorus Cycle……………………………………… 1
Description of Phosphorus …………………………………………. 1
Pictures………………………………………………………………2-3
Description of the Cycle…………………………………………….4-6
Human Influences……………………………………………………7
Bibliography………………………………………………………….8
What is the Phosphorus cycle?
The phosphorus cycle is the biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Unlike many other biogeochemical cycles, the atmosphere does not play a significant role in the movements of phosphorus, because phosphorus and phosphorus-based compounds are usually solids at the typical ranges of temperature and pressure found on Earth.
Description of Phosphorus
Most common form of phosphorus is red and white.
Both are tetrahedral groups of four atoms.
White phosphorus burns on contact with air and can change into red phosphorus when exposed to light or heat.
White phosphorus has two modifications.
Ordinary phosphorus is waxy white solid.
When pure it is colorless and transparent.
Pure phosphorus is insoluble in water but soluble in carbon disulphide catches fire spontaneously in air.
Description of the cycle
Simplest of the cycles
Phosphorus has only one form – phosphate
– Always part of an organism, dissolved in water, or in the form of rock
Phosphorus enters environment from rocks or deposits
Apatite is the phosphate rock where phosphate is available
Weathering and erosion releases phosphate ions that are soluble in water
Phosphate then acts as fertilizers or nutrients for land plants
It gets incorporated into molecules essential for life like ATP, adenosine triphosphate – this is important in storage and use of energy
Phosphate is in backbone of DNA and RNA
When animals and plants die, phosphates
Done By: Jamila Richardson and Janice Foster
Teacher: Mr. Hunter
School: Quality Academics
Table of contents
What is the Phosphorus Cycle……………………………………… 1
Description of Phosphorus …………………………………………. 1
Pictures………………………………………………………………2-3
Description of the Cycle…………………………………………….4-6
Human Influences……………………………………………………7
Bibliography………………………………………………………….8
What is the Phosphorus cycle?
The phosphorus cycle is the biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Unlike many other biogeochemical cycles, the atmosphere does not play a significant role in the movements of phosphorus, because phosphorus and phosphorus-based compounds are usually solids at the typical ranges of temperature and pressure found on Earth.
Description of Phosphorus
Most common form of phosphorus is red and white.
Both are tetrahedral groups of four atoms.
White phosphorus burns on contact with air and can change into red phosphorus when exposed to light or heat.
White phosphorus has two modifications.
Ordinary phosphorus is waxy white solid.
When pure it is colorless and transparent.
Pure phosphorus is insoluble in water but soluble in carbon disulphide catches fire spontaneously in air.
Description of the cycle
Simplest of the cycles
Phosphorus has only one form – phosphate
– Always part of an organism, dissolved in water, or in the form of rock
Phosphorus enters environment from rocks or deposits
Apatite is the phosphate rock where phosphate is available
Weathering and erosion releases phosphate ions that are soluble in water
Phosphate then acts as fertilizers or nutrients for land plants
It gets incorporated into molecules essential for life like ATP, adenosine triphosphate – this is important in storage and use of energy
Phosphate is in backbone of DNA and RNA
When animals and plants die, phosphates