GRADE 9 INTERATED SCIENCE COMMON NOTES – KAMBULE (2020)

Compiled by; Mr. Kalinda F.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

(i) Describe the oxygen and carbon cycles.

(ii) Identify factors affecting the oxygen and carbon cycles.
(iii) Describe the nitrogen cycles.
(iv) Explain the natural balance of gases in the atmosphere.

UNITY 4. CYCLES IN THE BIOSPHERE

The biosphere is the portion of the earth in which all known forms of life exist.

THE OXYGEN CYCLE

 The oxygen cycle refers to the movement of oxygen as it is recycled and reused in the
biosphere.
 Below is the diagram that show the oxygen cycle;

Oxygen in the air

combustion Respiration
Respiration Weathering
photosynthesi
s
Fire PLANTS Animals

Decay
Decay

Components of
the earth’s crust

Page 1 of 9
 PROCESSES THAT ADD OXYGEN TO THE ATMOSPHERE
1. Photosynthesis
 During photosynthesis, plants use carbon dioxide and produces oxygen which
is released into the atmosphere.

PROCESSES THAT REMOVE OXYGEN TO THE ATMOSPHERE

1. Respiration
 All animals and plants use up oxygen when they breathe.
2. Combustion
 When things burn, they use up oxygen.
3. Decomposition
 When plants and animals die, the decay or decompose. The organisms that
take part in the decomposition process use up oxygen.
4. Rusting (Oxidation)
 When metals
rust, they use
up oxygen.

THE
CARBON
CYCLE

The carbon cycle refers to the

movement of carbon as it is
recycled and reused in the
biosphere.

Page 2 of 9
 PROCESSES THAT ADD CARBON DIOXIDE TO THE ATMOSPHERE
1. Respiration
 Every time we breathe, we turn oxygen into carbon dioxide and in the dark,
plants respire and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
2. Decay
 When plants and animals die, they decay or decompose and release carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere.
3. Combustion (burning)
 When plants, trees or fossil fuels are burned, carbon dioxide released to the
atmosphere.
4. Deforestation and industrialization also increases the carbon dioxide concentration in
the atmosphere.
PROCESSES THAT ADD CARBON DIOXIDE TO THE ATMOSPHERE
1. Photosynthesis
 Plants take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis.
2. The ocean
 The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to form carbonic acid.

EFFECTS /CONSEQUENCES OF TOO MUCH CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE

ATMOSPHERE

 Too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to an increase in surface

temperature around the world / earth’s surface.
 It causes a process called global warming.

FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE OXYGEN AND CARBON CYCLES

1. PLANTS: plants take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and give off oxygen.

Page 3 of 9
 2. ANIMALS: animals take in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide during respiration.
3. FOSSIL FUELS; when fossil fuels burn, they use oxygen and release carbon dioxide into
the atmosphere.

THE NITROGEN CYCLE

The nitrogen cycle is a model that explains how nitrogen is recycled, that is, ways in which
nitrogen is added to the soil and removed from the soil.

The nitrogen cycle involves the following processes.

i. Nitrogen fixation
This is the process by which nitrogen combines with other elements. It occurs in three
ways
a. Atmospheric fixation by lightning which helps nitrogen to combine with oxygen
to form nitrogen oxides and later form nitrates that are carried to the soil.
b. Biological fixation by nitrogen – fixing bacteria in the soil (e.g. Azotobacter sp.)
or root nodules (Rhizobium sp.) which convert nitrogen to nitrates.
c. Industrial fixation in the process called the Haber process in which nitrogen
combines with hydrogen to form ammonia (under great pressure, at a temperature
of about 600℃ and with the use of a catalyst) which can be used directly as
fertilizer or can further be processed into urea and ammonium nitrates.
ii. Nitrification
This is the process by which ammonia is converted into nitrates. This is done
nitrifying bacteria e.g. Nitrobacter sp.
iii. Assimilation
Page 4 of 9
 This is the process by which plants and animals get nitrogen.
Plants absorb nitrates from the soil through the roots while animals eat plants.
iv. Ammonification
This is the process by which decomposes such as fungi and bacteria turn the nitrogen
in dead plants and animals into ammonia so it can re-enter the nitrogen cycle.
v. Denitrification
This is the process by which extra nitrogen in the soil is released back out into the
atmosphere. This is done by denitrifying bacteria (e.g. Pseudomonas denitrificans)

Nitrogen in the air

Lightning

Denitrification Fixation by bacteria Animals

Eaten
Decomposition
Plants Leguminous plants
(Roots containing Plants Dead plants and animals, urine
nitrogen fixing and faeces
Fixation bacteria)
Ammonification

Absorption Ammonia
Nitrates
Nitrification

NATURAL WAYS OF ADDING NITROGEN TO THE SOIL

i. Lightning
Lightning helps nitrogen to combine with oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide.
Nitrogen dioxide dissolves in rain water to form nitric acid. Nitric acid
contains nitrate ions which enter the soil when it rains.
ii. Planting legumes
Roots of legumes such as beans and peas have certain bacteria (nitrifying or
nitrogen – fixing bacteria) that have the ability to take nitrogen from the

Page 5 of 9
 atmosphere and change it into nitrates which can be used by the plant in the
soil.
iii. Nitrogen fixing bacteria
Some other nitrogen – fixing bacteria which live as free organisms in the soil
are able to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into the soil.
iv. Decay of plants
When plants die, they decay and nitrogen is taken back into the soil.

ARTIFICIAL WAYS OF ADDING NITROGEN TO THE SOIL

i. Artificial fertilisers
These fertilisers are used to add nitrogen, ammonium nitrate and nitrates to
the soil in farms.
ii. Animal manure
Farmyard manure or cow dung is a source of soluble nitrates which are
applied on the fields or dug into the soil.
REMOVAL OF NITROGEN FROM THE SOIL
i. Denitrifying bacteria return nitrogen to the atmosphere through
denitrification process.
ii. Harvesting legumes takes away the nitrogen they contain from the soil.
iii. Dissolving nitrates in underground water. Nitrates are highly soluble in
water.
THE NUTURAL BALANCE OF GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE
The correct proportions of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
are;
i. Oxygen – 21%
ii. Nitrogen – 78%
iii. Carbon dioxide – 0.03%

Page 6 of 9
These proportions are well balanced through the processes of photosynthesis, respiration and
action by bacteria found in the soil.

OXYGEN

 Oxygen is released to the atmosphere by photosynthesis and it is removed from the

atmosphere by
respiration.
Hence, is
exchanged
between the
atmosphere and
living things.

NITROGEN

 Nitrogen in the atmosphere is transferred into the soil by nitrogen – fixing bacteria and
the flashing of lightning.
 It is returned to the atmosphere by denitrifying bacteria or the process of
denitrification.

CARBON DIOXIDE

 Carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere by respiration and it is added to the

atmosphere by photosynthesis.
EXAM QUESTIONS
1. 2018/P2/Q7
Study the diagram below which shows the carbon cycle in the biosphere.

Page 7 of 9
 (a) From the diagram name the process marked X and Y.
(b) Give one example of:
(i) Decomposers
(ii) Fossil fuels
(c) Name one activity not in the diagram which releases carbon dioxide to the air.
(d) In terms of oxygen cycle, explain why it is important to plant a lot of trees.
2. 2019/P2/Q7
The diagram below shows the carbon cycle.

(a) From the diagram, how many processes are;

(i) Removing carbon
from the air?
(ii) Adding carbon into
the air?
(b) Name two other
activities not in the
diagram which add
more carbon dioxide
to the atmosphere.

Page 8 of 9
 (c) What would be the consequences of having too much carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere?
(d) Explain how oxygen and carbon dioxide is balanced in the atmosphere.
3. 2016/p1/q24
The diagram below shows a cycle of the biosphere.

Identify processes 1, 2, 3, and 4.

1 2 3 4
A Lightning Denitrification Nitrification Nitrogen fixation
B Nitrification Nitrogen fixation Denitrification Lightning
C Denitrification Nitrification Lightning Nitrogen fixation
D Lightning Nitrogen fixation Denitrification Nitrification

4. Study the diagram below showing the oxygen cycle.

Identify
processes
1, 2 and 3.

Page 9 of 9