The Sulfur Cycle

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The Sulfur Cycle

• Aslan Smith
• James Littrell
• Olivia Stephens
• Kristina Pesce

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WHAT is sulfur?

• Atomic number 16.
• Symbol S
• Native form is a yellow crystalline (crystal
  like) solid.
• In nature it can be found as the pure element,
  and as sulfide and sulfate minerals.
• commercial uses fertilizers, gunpowder, matches,
  insecticides, fungicides, vitamins, proteins and
  hormones.
• It is critical in the environment, climate and
  the health of ecosystems.
• Random facts it can also be referred to as
  brimstone.
• its the tenth most abundant element in the
  universe

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WHERE is sulfur found?

• The majority of Earth's sulfur is stored
• In rocks underground!
• In sulfur salts at the bottom of the ocean!

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The Cycles

• Erosion, weathering, deposition
• Predominately atmospheric cycle
• Marine cycle
• Soil-plant cycle

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The Cycles part two!!

• Mineralization of organic sulfur to the
  inorganic form hydrogen sulfide (H2S).    
• Oxidation of sulfide and elemental sulfur (S) and
  related compounds to sulfate (SO4).
• Reduction of sulfate to sulfide     
• Microbial immobilization of the sulfur compounds
  and subsequent incorporation into the organic
  form of sulfur!

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The Terrestrial Portion

• Weathering of rocks release stored sulfur
• Sulfur comes into contact with air and is
  converted into sulfate (SO4) ions
• The sulfate is taken up by plants and
  microorganisms, converted into organic forms
• Animals consume organic molecules containing
  sulfur, sulfur moves through the food chain
• The death and decomposition of organisms release
  sulfur once again in sulfate form and some of it
  becomes part of the biomass of microorganisms.

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The Atmospheric Portion

• Volcanic eruptions, breakdown of organic matter
  in swamps and tidal flats, and the evaporation of
  water, especially seawater, release sulfur
  directly into the atmosphere
• Sulfur eventually settles to earth or comes down
  with rainfall

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In the Oceans

• In oceans, sulfur moves through the various
  marine food webs
• Some sulfur is lost in the ocean by being
  incorporated into ferrous sulfide and settling to
  the seafloor

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Human Activities

• The burning of fossil fuels and processing of
  metals releases huge quantities of sulfur into
  the atmosphere
• Human activities are responsible for one-third of
  all sulfur emissions and 90 of all sulfur
  dioxide emissions
• Sulfur dioxide emissions lead to acid rain as
  sulfur dioxide reacts with water to form H2SO4
  and sulfur trioxide reacts with water to form
  H2SO4

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• READY FOR A POP QUIZ?
• Flip to page three on your hand out. You will be
  given one minute to complete the following
  questions! Good luck!!

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Answers!

• Vitamins, proteins, fertilizers (others?)
• Volcanoes! (others?)
• The weathering of rocks! (deposition)
• Terrestrial/Atmospheric (Marine is also
  acceptable)
• Humans! 1/3rd in fact!

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Sources

• http//www.enviroliteracy.org/article.php/1348.htm
  l
• http//www.atmosphere.mpg.de/enid/Nr_6_Feb__2__6_a
  cid_rain/C__The_sulphur_cycle_5i9.html
• http//www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/CliffsReviewTo
  pic/The-Sulfur-Cycle.topicArticleId-23791,articleI
  d-23787.html