6. Glossary

autotrophic :

Refers to a living organism that uses only carbon dioxide from the air to synthesize its constituents, and draws its energy from mineral compounds.

lithotrophic :

An organism that derives its energy from the oxidation of a mineral substrate.

case-hardening :

Method of extracting a metal from an aqueous solution by a redox reaction that precipitates one metal in elemental form by reduction (Cu ⁺⁺ + 2e ^- → Cu°), while another is dissolved by oxidation (Fe° → Fe ⁺⁺ + 2e ^- ).

sulfate dissimilation :

The proportion of sulfate...