27-12-2012, 06:08 PM
Sulfur Cycle
[attachment=45480]
What is sulfur?
Sulfur is the 10th most abundant element in the environment, with atomic number 16. It is a bright yellow crystalline solid in its normal state, with most of it stored underground in rocks and minerals and in ocean floor deposits. Sulfur is used for fertilizers, gunpowder, matches, and in insecticides and fungicides. It is a part of vitamins, proteins and hormones that are considered critical to climate and health of various ecosystems.
Steps of Sulfur Cycle
The cycle begins with the weathering of rocks, which releases stored sulfur.
Sulfur comes into contact with the air, converting it to sulfate (SO4).
Sulfate is taken up by plants and microorganisms and is changed to organic form.
Sulfur moves up the food chain.
When organisms die, some of the sulfur is released back to sulfate and enter microorganisms.
Natural sources emit sulfur into the air.
Sulfur eventually settles back to the Earth or comes through rainfall, with some also going to the ocean.
Sulfur is also drained to rivers and lakes, eventually to the oceans.
Some of the sulfur from oceans go back to the atmosphere through the sea spray.
Remaining sulfur go to ocean floor and form ferrous sulfide, which is responsible for the black color of most marine sediments.
Effects of Sulfur Cycle on Nature
Sulfur is one of the processes that allow natural weathering and other natural processes.
Sulfur Cycle does not allow acid rains because it regulates the amount of sulfur present in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
Sulfuric acid forms sulfuric acid smog when it mixes with water vapor.
[attachment=45480]
What is sulfur?
Sulfur is the 10th most abundant element in the environment, with atomic number 16. It is a bright yellow crystalline solid in its normal state, with most of it stored underground in rocks and minerals and in ocean floor deposits. Sulfur is used for fertilizers, gunpowder, matches, and in insecticides and fungicides. It is a part of vitamins, proteins and hormones that are considered critical to climate and health of various ecosystems.
Steps of Sulfur Cycle
The cycle begins with the weathering of rocks, which releases stored sulfur.
Sulfur comes into contact with the air, converting it to sulfate (SO4).
Sulfate is taken up by plants and microorganisms and is changed to organic form.
Sulfur moves up the food chain.
When organisms die, some of the sulfur is released back to sulfate and enter microorganisms.
Natural sources emit sulfur into the air.
Sulfur eventually settles back to the Earth or comes through rainfall, with some also going to the ocean.
Sulfur is also drained to rivers and lakes, eventually to the oceans.
Some of the sulfur from oceans go back to the atmosphere through the sea spray.
Remaining sulfur go to ocean floor and form ferrous sulfide, which is responsible for the black color of most marine sediments.
Effects of Sulfur Cycle on Nature
Sulfur is one of the processes that allow natural weathering and other natural processes.
Sulfur Cycle does not allow acid rains because it regulates the amount of sulfur present in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
Sulfuric acid forms sulfuric acid smog when it mixes with water vapor.