Question

Describe the path of an oxygen atom through four reservoirs of the oxygen cycle. Explain the process involved in the transfer between these reservoirs. Also, note the reservoirs in the path where the oxygen atom bonds to a carbon atom.

Answer 1

Answer:

The four main reservoirs of oxygen cycle are terrestrial biosphere, marine biosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere.

Explanation:

Oxygen is present about 21 % in the atmosphere which comes to the earth surface i. e. terrestrial biosphere where animals and microbes use this oxygen for the process of respiration while plants are the only organisms which produces oxygen in the process of photosynthesis and this oxygen goes to the atmosphere. This atmospheric oxygen also dissolve in water which is used by the marine animals. Oxygen atom is also present with carbon atom in the form of food molecules such as glucose which is produced inn the process of photosynthesis.

Answer 2

Answer:

Starting in a lake, my oxygen atom is part of a dissolved oxygen molecule (the dissolved oxygen reservoir).

A fish utilizes the molecule for respiration, converting it to dissolved carbon dioxide in the lake (the dissolved CO2 reservoir, where the oxygen atom bonds to a carbon atom).

The CO2 molecule leaves the lake and enters the atmosphere (atmospheric CO2 reservoir, also where the oxygen atom is bonded to a carbon atom).

Next, a plant uses the CO2 molecule for photosynthesis, converting it to an oxygen molecule (atmospheric O2 reservoi).