Biogeochemical Cycles and Key Chemical Elements

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to biogeochemical cycles and the elements essential to life, based on the provided notes.

Biogeochemical Cycle

The way in which an element or compound moves between living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) factors.

Chenops

An acronym to remember the six most common elements in organic molecules: Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, Sulfur.

Carbon

A building block of life found in all organic molecules.

Hydrogen

An element present in all fluids of the human body, important for the transport of toxins and waste.

Nitrogen

Essential for the formation of amino acids and proteins.

Oxygen

Vital for cellular respiration, it reacts with glucose to form ATP.

Phosphorus

A key component of DNA and RNA.

Sulfur

Important for protein structure, released into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels.

Water

Essential for life, aids in respiration, metabolism, and compound transport.