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46.3E: The Sulfur Cycle

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    • Boundless
    • Boundless
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    Learning Objectives
    • Describe the sulfur cycle

    Sulfur is an essential element for the macromolecules of living things. As a part of the amino acid cysteine, it is involved in the formation of disulfide bonds within proteins, which help to determine their 3-D folding patterns and, hence, their functions. Sulfur cycles exist between the oceans, land, and atmosphere.

    image
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Sulfur cycle: Sulfur dioxide from the atmosphere becomes available to terrestrial and marine ecosystems when it is dissolved in precipitation as weak sulfuric acid or when it falls directly to the earth as fallout. Weathering of rocks also makes sulfates available to terrestrial ecosystems. Decomposition of living organisms returns sulfates to the ocean, soil, and atmosphere.

    On land, sulfur is deposited in four major ways: precipitation, direct fallout from the atmosphere, rock weathering, and decomposition of organic materials. Atmospheric sulfur is found in the form of sulfur dioxide (SO2). As rain falls through the atmosphere, sulfur is dissolved in the form of weak sulfuric acid (H2SO4), creating acid rain. Sulfur can also fall directly from the atmosphere in a process called fallout. The weathering of sulfur-containing rocks also releases sulfur into the soil. These rocks originate from ocean sediments that are moved to land by the geologic uplift. Terrestrial ecosystems can then make use of these soil sulfates (SO42−). Upon the death and decomposition of these organisms, sulfur is released back into the atmosphere as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas. Sulfur may also enter the atmosphere through geothermal vents.

    image
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Sulfur vents: At this sulfur vent in Lassen Volcanic National Park in northeastern California, the yellowish sulfur deposits are visible near the mouth of the vent.

    Sulfur enters the ocean via runoff from land, fallout, and underwater geothermal vents. Some marine ecosystems rely on chemoautotrophs, using sulfur as a biological energy source. This sulfur then supports marine ecosystems in the form of sulfates.

    Human activities have played a major role in altering the balance of the global sulfur cycle. The burning of large quantities of fossil fuels, especially from coal, releases large amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas into the atmosphere, creating acid rain. Acid rain is corrosive rain that causes damage to aquatic ecosystems and the natural environment by lowering the pH of lakes, which kills many of the resident fauna; it also affects the human-made environment through the chemical degradation of buildings. For example, many marble monuments, such as the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, have suffered significant damage from acid rain over the years. These examples show the wide-ranging effects of human activities on our environment and the challenges that remain for our future.

    Key Points

    • Sulfur is an essential element for the macromolecules of living things since it determines the 3-D folding patterns of proteins.
    • On land, sulfur enters the atmosphere via acid rain, fallout, the weathering of rocks, decompostion of organic materials, and geothermal vents.
    • Sulfur enters the ocean via runoff, fallout, and underwater geothermal vents; some marine ecosystems also rely on chemoautotrophs as a sulfur source.
    • The burning of fossil fuels increases the amount of sulfide in the atmosphere and causes acid rain.
    • Acid rain is corrosive rain that causes damage to aquatic ecosystems by lowering the pH of lakes, killing many of the resident fauna; it also degrades buildings and human-made structures.

    Key Terms

    • chemoautotroph: a simple organism, such as a protozoan, that derives its energy from chemical processes rather than photosynthesis
    • fallout: direct deposit of solid minerals on land or in the ocean from the atmosphere
    • acid rain: corrosive rain caused by rainwater falling to the ground through sulfur dioxide gas, turning it into weak sulfuric acid; can damage structures and ecosystems

    Contributions and Attributions

    This page titled 46.3E: The Sulfur Cycle is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Boundless.

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