0403_decomp

Decomposition of Dead Organic and Inorganic Matter By Natasha Bourassa and Robin Holmes

Decomposition is the decaying of something organic or in-organic that has died. Basically the body is rotting, going into the soils providing nutrients for other things that may grow there.

First bacteria invade the decomposing item and destroy tissue which contain important protein strands. Methane gas is given off as the body slowly decomposes. This process also breaks down carbon and releases it into the air, helping the carbon cycle to go on. So,dead things provide carbon as they decompose and provide such things like compost, and sugars that plants need to grow.

CH4 + O2 → CO + H2 + H2O (Methane is believed to be a form of formaldhyde, which gives a formyl radical, therefore making carbon monoxide)

Without this process, plants may not be able to perform photosynthesis: a vital key to human survival. Also there would be many disgusting dead bodies lying around where everyone can see and smell them.

This type of reaction is decompostion ( not only for the fact that the word "decomp" is in the name, but also because when something is decomposing it gives up many gases and it's many parts break into even more parts).

Decompostion is used for fertilizers, that are needed to grow crops and plants for human and animal use, and the several stages of decompostion are used in many forensic jobs that help to solve how are person or animal has died, and what has killed them.

These stages ( for animals atleast) are labelled as: Fresh, Bloat, Active Decay, Advanced Decay, Dry Remains.



Decompostion should be considered the most important reaction because without it, where would all these dead things go? How would plants get the nutrients they need from the soils they grow in? How would farmers get the large crops they need without fertilizers that help them to grow? Where would they carbon come form to help keep the Carbon Cycle going? Ask your self these questions and try to think about what YOU would do if the constant aroma and sight of dead animals, plants, and people were a daily occurence. Having to always walk over and around the, uh, "droppings" that living animals leave behind. Obviously Decomposition of Organic and In-Orgainc Matter is the most important reaction in the world.