Problem 11 - A Complete Resource Book in Chemistry for JEE Main

Question

Biosphere includes (a) plants and animals (b) rocks and minerals (c) atmosphere and lithosphere (d) water sources

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The biosphere includes (a) plants and animals.

Step 1: Understand the Definition

The biosphere is defined as the global sum of all ecosystems. It is the zone of life on Earth, a closed system containing all living beings.

Step 2: Identify Elements

Identify what components typically make up the biosphere, focusing on areas where life exists. This includes all living organisms like plants and animals, as well as environments that support these life forms.

Step 3: Evaluate Each Option

Evaluate each of the given options: (a) Plants and animals are living organisms, hence part of the biosphere. (b) Rocks and minerals do not include life and are not part of the biosphere. (c) The atmosphere and lithosphere are part of Earth's systems but contain non-living components; however, they support life indirectly. (d) Water sources are crucial for life, making them part of the biosphere.

Step 4: Select the Best Answer

Based on the evaluations above, the option that most directly relates to the biosphere due to being composed of living organisms is option (a): plants and animals.

Key Concepts

Ecosystems

The term 'ecosystem' refers to the community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment. Each ecosystem consists of two main components: the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) things. Biotic components include all kinds of living organisms such as plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. These living entities play specific roles within the ecosystem, such as producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Abiotic components, on the other hand, consist of non-living elements like sunlight, water, minerals, and climate factors. These components impact and influence the conditions for the living organisms within the ecosystem.

• Interaction and balance between biotic and abiotic elements are essential for the ecosystem's health and functionality.
• These interactions include processes like photosynthesis, predation, decomposition, and nutrient cycling.

Together, these interactions help maintain equilibrium, where resources like food and energy flow within the ecosystem. Understanding these dynamics is key to comprehending how ecosystems thrive and support life across various environments, from forests to oceans.

Living Organisms

Living organisms are the beating heart of the biosphere. They include plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. Each organism carries out life processes such as growth, reproduction, and response to their environment.
Living organisms can be categorized into producers, consumers, and decomposers, depending on their role in the ecosystem.

• Producers: These are primarily plants and algae that carry out photosynthesis, using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce food and oxygen.
• Consumers: Animals that eat plants or other animals to obtain energy are consumers. They can be herbivores (plant-eaters), carnivores (meat-eaters), or omnivores (eating both plants and animals).
• Decomposers: Organisms like bacteria and fungi that break down dead materials, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Each of these categories plays an essential role in the energy flow and nutrient cycling within an ecosystem, contributing to the sustainability of life on Earth.

Components of Biosphere

The biosphere is the global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships. It consists of several key components that include both biotic and supporting abiotic elements.
Biotic components are the living organisms such as plants, animals, and microorganisms that inhabit the biosphere. Abiotic components are non-living elements like air, water, and minerals, which are vital to supporting life.

• Air (Atmosphere): The atmosphere provides essential gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide that living organisms need for critical processes such as respiration and photosynthesis.
• Water: Essential for all known forms of life, water acts as a solvent, medium for chemical reactions, and means of transportation for nutrients and waste.
• Rocks and Soil (Lithosphere): While rocks themselves are non-living, they contribute minerals to the soil, providing essential nutrients for plant life.

These components work synergistically to create a habitat suitable for life, ensuring the continual operation of ecosystems within the biosphere. Understanding the interplay of these components helps in grasping how the Earth's biosphere sustains itself and supports diverse forms of life.