Hydrogen cycle
Hydrogen Cycle
The Hydrogen Cycle (pronounced: /ˈhaɪdrədʒən/ /ˈsaɪkəl/) is a biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement and exchange of hydrogen (H) through the Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
Etymology
The term "Hydrogen Cycle" is derived from the Greek words 'hydro' meaning water and 'genes' meaning forming, referring to the element's ability to form water when it reacts with oxygen. The word 'cycle' comes from the Greek 'kyklos' meaning circle, referring to the continuous and cyclical nature of the process.
Process
The Hydrogen Cycle begins with the photosynthesis process in plants, where water (H2O) is broken down into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is then used to create glucose, while the oxygen is released into the atmosphere.
The hydrogen in glucose is then transferred through the food chain via consumption. When organisms respire, the glucose is broken down, releasing the hydrogen back into the atmosphere as water vapor.
Finally, the water vapor condenses and falls back to the Earth as precipitation, completing the cycle.
Related Terms
- Biogeochemical cycle: The movement of chemical elements between living, or biotic, parts of an ecosystem and non-living, or abiotic, parts of an ecosystem.
- Photosynthesis: The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of carbon dioxide and water.
- Respiration: The process in living organisms involving the production of energy, typically with the intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide from the oxidation of complex organic substances.
- Consumption: The process of using up a resource.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hydrogen cycle
- Wikipedia's article - Hydrogen cycle
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