Does fossil fuels play a role in the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle or both?
Fossil fuels mainly play a role in the carbon cycle, as they are formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals that stored carbon over millions of years. When fossil fuels are burned for energy or other purposes, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and climate change.
On the other hand, the nitrogen cycle is primarily influenced by nitrogen-based compounds such as nitrogen gas (N2) in the atmosphere, ammonium (NH4+), nitrite (NO2-), and nitrate (NO3-) in soils, and other forms of nitrogen in organisms. Fossil fuels do not directly participate in the nitrogen cycle, although some nitrogen-based compounds may be emitted during the combustion of fossil fuels due to impurities or specific industrial processes.