Carbon Cycle Flashcard Review

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What is the carbon cycle?

Back

The carbon cycle is the process by which carbon is exchanged among the atmosphere, land, water, and living organisms. It involves processes like photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion.

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What are fossil fuel deposits?

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Fossil fuel deposits are natural substances formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals, which have been buried and subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years. They include coal, oil, and natural gas.

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What is photosynthesis?

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Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy, usually from the sun, into chemical energy in the form of glucose, using carbon dioxide and water.

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What is cellular respiration?

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Cellular respiration is the process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy (ATP), carbon dioxide, and water. It is essential for the survival of most living organisms.

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How do photosynthesis and cellular respiration relate to each other?

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Photosynthesis produces glucose and oxygen, which are then used in cellular respiration to produce energy, carbon dioxide, and water. This creates a cycle where the products of one process are the reactants of the other.

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What is combustion?

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Combustion is a chemical reaction that occurs when a substance (usually a fuel) reacts with oxygen to produce heat and light, resulting in the formation of carbon dioxide and water.

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What happens to carbon during combustion?

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During combustion, carbon in fossil fuels is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

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What is a carbon reservoir?

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A carbon reservoir is a natural system that stores carbon-containing compounds for an indefinite period. Examples include the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and fossil fuel deposits.

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What role do oceans play in the carbon cycle?

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Oceans act as a major carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in water and marine organisms.

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What is the greenhouse effect?

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The greenhouse effect is the warming of Earth's surface due to the trapping of heat by greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere, which prevents heat from escaping into space.