The components of organic molecules, such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, are constantly being stored and recycled as part of their biochemical cycle.
Water contains oxygen and hydrogen and it is essential to all living processes.
Carbon is found in all organic molecules.
Nitrogen is found in nucleic acids and proteins.
Phosphorus is a major component of nucleic acid. Along with nitrogen, phosphorus is very important for agriculture, both molecules are used as fertilizers.
The cycling of these elements is interconnected, the movement of water is important for leaching nitrogen and phosphate from earth to water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and the oceans. The ocean is a major reservoir of carbon. These minerals are cycled through the entire biosphere, they are found in the atmosphere (water is found as vapor, nitrogen as gas as well as oxygen and carbon forming carbon dioxide, or pure oxygen, and phosphorus is found as an aerosol)
They are also found in the land as part of inorganic substances, or as a part of organic organisms. As well as within the hydrosphere, either as sediments or as part of the living organisms.
