STAGE 2 CHEMISTRY

ASSIGNMENT 1.2

Elemental & Environmental Chemistry

NAME:

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CYCLES IN NATURE
1. Below is a diagrammatic representation of part of the nitrogen cycle.

(a) Explain using equations how nitrogen in the air can be converted to nitrates when lightening
occurs and moisture is in the air.
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(b) Give two reasons why it is undesirable that oxides of nitrogen form in industrial processes.
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(2)

(c) State why nitrogen compounds are important for us.

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(1)

(d) (i) In what form does nitrogen exist in air?

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(1)

(ii) Why does nitrogen not combine with oxygen in the air under normal atmospheric
conditions?
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(2)

(iii) What is the common name for the conversion of elemental nitrogen into compounds in
the nitrogen cycle?
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(1)

(e) (i) How do plants obtain the nitrogen compounds they need?
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(1)

(ii) In what form is nitrogen stored in plants?

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(1)

(iii) In what form does the nitrogen return to the environment when plants decompose
1. in the presence of oxygen and water?
2. in the absence of oxygen?
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(2)

2. The presence of oxygen is important to most forms of life. Living organisms need oxygen for
many important chemical reactions involving dead organisms.
(a) Define aerobic respiration and explain why it is important to organisms.
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(2)

(b) Write an equation for the aerobic respiration of glucose.

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(2)

(c) Define anaerobic decomposition and explain why this is undesirable for the environment.
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(2)

(d) Draw a table showing the decomposition products of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and
sulphur in aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

(8)

3. Phosphorous is also required by plants as a nutrient.

(a) In what form is phosphorous most commonly found in soils?
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(1)

(b) Why is this form useless to plants?

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(1)

(c) To which form does it need to be changed? State its name and write its formula.
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(2)

(d) With the aid of equations explain how fixed phosphates can be converted to available
phosphates.
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(3)

TOTAL MARKS 39