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Multiple Choice
Which of the following nutrients is not cycled through the atmosphere in the context of organic chemistry?
A
Carbon
B
Oxygen
C
Phosphorus
D
Nitrogen
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the nutrients listed in the problem: Carbon, Oxygen, Phosphorus, and Nitrogen.
Understand the concept of biogeochemical cycles, which describe the movement of elements through the Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere.
Recognize that Carbon, Oxygen, and Nitrogen are part of cycles that involve the atmosphere. For example, Carbon is cycled through the carbon cycle, Oxygen through the oxygen cycle, and Nitrogen through the nitrogen cycle.
Note that Phosphorus is primarily cycled through the lithosphere and hydrosphere, not the atmosphere. It is part of the phosphorus cycle, which involves the movement of phosphorus through soil, water, and living organisms.
Conclude that Phosphorus is the nutrient that is not cycled through the atmosphere, as it does not have a gaseous phase in its cycle.