Due Tuesday January 11 at the beginning of class. Come prepared to share your answers with the class. Answer these questions neatly on a separate sheet(s) of paper. These will form the foundation for your study notes for this material.

Define these terms to the best of your ability. You may need to consult additional references. As you read, list any other words or concepts that you don’t understand.

source

biosphere

sink

oxidation

atom

reduction

element

mineralization

biogeochemical cycle

isotope

gigaton

1. Calculate how much water you use in a day, in a year. Use liters as your units. Document all your assumptions at the beginning of your answer.
2. In addition to the examples described in the book, give several more specific examples of how the physical properties of water create/modify conditions for living organisms.
3. Briefly explain the process of photosynthesis, first using words, then using a chemical equation.
4. What was the most important modification of the Earth’s atmosphere caused by early life forms that permits life as we know it to exist today? Briefly explain how this change came about.