Carbon Cycle

Carbon Cycle

How does the carbon cycle move carbon from the atmosphere to living things and back again?

What is the Carbon Cycle?

The carbon cycle is the process by which producers take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and change it into a form that can be used by consumers

This is important because consumers cannot use carbon in its atmospheric form (carbon dioxide), and they need the carbon to build macromolecules.

4 Steps: Photosynthesis, Respiration, Decomposition and Combustion

Multiple Select

Flashback! Choose the 4 macromolecules.

• Carbohydrate

• Lipid

• Protein

• Potassium

• Nucleic Acid

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT found in all macromolecules?

• Carbon

• Nitrogen

• Oxygen

Photosynthesis

During photosynthesis, producers take carbon dioxide out of the air and, using water and sunlight, convert it into glucose (sugar) and oxygen

The carbon found in glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) is a form that can be used by consumers and other living things

Photosynthesis changes carbon and light energy from the sun into forms that can be used by living things

Multiple Select

*Choose all that apply* What are benefits of photosynthesis?

• It makes food that plants and animals can use for energy

• It changes light energy from the sun into a form that can be used by living things

• It changes carbon into a form that can be used by living things

Multiple Choice

In which organelle does photosynthesis take place?

• Chloroplast

• Mitochondria

• Nucleus

Open Ended

In your own words, describe why photosynthesis is so important to humans.

Cellular Respiration

During cellular respiration, both consumers and producers take glucose and oxygen and use them to produce energy

The byproducts of this process, carbon dioxide and water, are released back into the atmosphere to be used again for photosynthesis

Multiple Choice

How are cellular respiration and photosynthesis related?

• They are the same reaction, which means that their reactants (starting substances) and their products (ending substances) are exactly the same

• They are opposite reactions, which means the products (ending substances) of photosynthesis become the reactants (starting substances) of cellular respiration and vice versa

• Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are not related

Multiple Choice

FLASHBACK! In which organelle does cellular respiration take place?

• Chloroplast

• Nucleus

• Mitochondria

Decomposition

Decomposition is the process of breaking down dead organic (once living) and non-organic material

This process returns nutrients to the soil and can form fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas)

Multiple Choice

Which of the following living things is responsible for decomposition?

• Plants

• Animals

• Bacteria

Open Ended

What do you think would happen on Earth if decomposition did not take place?

Combustion

Combustion is the burning of materials to release energy

The byproduct of the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

Releasing too much carbon dioxide increases the greenhouse effect and contributes to global warming

Multiple Select

Choose the three fossil fuels

• natural gas

• water

• coal

• hydrogen

• oil

Open Ended

RESEARCH! Use Google or Dictionary.com to find the definition of the Greenhouse Effect

Conclusion

The carbon cycle is the Earth’s ultimate form of recycling and is a delicate balance.

Burning more fossil fuels has created more than 30% more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than 150 years ago – this is making the earth become warmer.

Helping to keep our environment clean by burning fewer fossil fuels will assure this cycle keeps going for our future generations.

Open Ended

THINK! How might the death of all of the producers in an ecosystem affect the carbon cycle?