Problem 4
'Mineralization' refers to the process by which organic forms of an element are broken down and converted to inorganic species. In environmental situations this is most often a microbiological process. For nitrogen, indicate what forms of the element might be present in water or soil as reactants and products of the mineralization process.
Problem 6
Evolution of ammonia is one process that can result in the transfer of nitrogen from an aqueous system to the atmosphere. Discuss environmental conditions that would favour such a process. Would you expect ammonia evolution to be significant (a) in an acid bog? (b) in the oceans?
Problem 8
Why are reduced gaseous species of sulfur emitted from rice (paddy) fields, swamps, and the near shore borders of lakes, but not from open lakes-even though reduced sulfur compounds are found in the sediments in all these situations?
