(Originais Teachy 2023) - Question Medium of Sciences

When the leaves fall from the trees, they begin to decompose on the forest floor. This decomposition process is very important for nature, as it releases nutrients that were stored in the leaves back into the soil. Fungi and bacteria play a key role in this stage of the life cycle, acting as decomposers. An experiment was conducted in a forest area where leaves from different trees were collected. Each set of leaves was placed in a separate container and kept under suitable conditions to observe decomposition. The experiment lasted several weeks and the students regularly noted the changes that occurred. At the end of the experiment, they compared the decomposition state of each set of leaves. Based on the natural cycle, the importance of decomposition, and the described experiment, what conclusion can be drawn about the role of the fungi and bacteria observed in the decomposition of leaves in the forest?

You must have noticed that the materials we use in our daily lives can change when placed in different situations. For example, water can change its form when heated to make tea, or what happens to fruit when left out of the refrigerator for too long. Think of a material you know and explain how it could change if placed in four different situations: (1) exposed to strong sunlight, (2) placed in the freezer, (3) mixed with another material that reacts with it, and (4) cut into very small pieces. Write about the changes this material could undergo and what causes this change, explaining what happens at the particle level of the materials.