The CARBON CYCLE

The CARBON CYCLE

The carbon cycle is the movement of carbon

from the nonliving

environment into living

things and back to the

environment.

​Carbon is the essential component of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, which make up all organisms.

​Carbon exists in air, water, on land and all living organisms.

​I can diagram abiotic cycles including the carbon cycles:

The CARBON CYCLE

1. Producers convert carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into carbohydrates during PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

2. CONSUMERS obtain carbon from the carbohydrates in the producers they eat.

3. During cellular RESPIRATION in some of the carbon from sugars is released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

4. Carbon stored in the bodies of organisms as fat, oils, or other molecules, may be released into the soil or air when the organisms die and DECOMPOSE.

   These molecules may form deposits of coal, oil, or natural gas (fossil fuels).

5. COMBUSTION occurs when any organic material is burned to give off the products of carbon dioxide and water and energy. Organic material can be any fossil fuel such as natural gas (methane), oil, or coal OR wood, paper, plastics, and cloth.

The CARBON CYCLE

• A carbon sink is anything that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases - for example, organic material (plants), the ocean, and soil, fossil fuels and sedimentary rock.

• A carbon source is anything that releases more carbon into atmosphere than it absorbs - for example, the burning of fossil fuels or volcanic eruptions, deforestation.

• Trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow. This is converted into carbon and stored in the plant's branches, leaves, trunks, roots and in the soil. When forests are cleared or burnt, stored carbon is released into the atmosphere, mainly as carbon dioxide.

• Humans burn fossil fuels, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere - Increased levels of carbon dioxide contribute to climate change.

• Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas along with water vapor and other gases - Greenhouse gases absorb and reradiate infrared energy, warming Earth.

Multiple Choice

Which abiotic cycle is the movement of carbon between the land, the oceans, the atmosphere and the Earth's interior?

• rock cycle

• nitrogen cycle

• water cycle

• carbon cycle

Multiple Choice

Carbon dioxide is produced and released by the human body through (label #3) -

• photosynthesis

• decomposition

• combustion

• respiration

Multiple Choice

Carbon dioxide from organisms is also returned to the atmosphere through the process of _____________ of dead tissue (label #5) -

• photosynthesis

• decomposition

• combustion

• respiration

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the process of combustion -

• When PLANTS use energy from the sun to chemically combine carbon dioxide with water to create sugar molecules.

• When the animals DIE and their remains become sediment, trapping the stored carbon in layers that eventually turn into rock or minerals.

• When any organic material is reacted (BURNED) in the presence of oxygen to give off the products of carbon dioxide and water and energy.

• When carbon moves from living things to the atmosphere as they EXHALE, releasing carbon dioxide gas (CO₂).

• A process that occurs in the mitochondria of all organisms. In this process, both plants and animals BREAK DOWN CARBOHYDRATES into carbon dioxide and water and release energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the process of photosynthesis -

• When PLANTS use energy from the sun to chemically combine carbon dioxide with water to create sugar molecules.

• When the animals DIE and their remains become sediment, trapping the stored carbon in layers that eventually turn into rock or minerals.

• When any organic material is reacted (BURNED) in the presence of oxygen to give off the products of carbon dioxide and water and energy.

• When carbon moves from living things to the atmosphere as they EXHALE, releasing carbon dioxide gas (CO₂).

• A process that occurs in the mitochondria of all organisms. In this process, both plants and animals BREAK DOWN CARBOHYDRATES into carbon dioxide and water and release energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the process of cellular respiration -

• When PLANTS use energy from the sun to chemically combine carbon dioxide with water to create sugar molecules.

• When the animals DIE and their remains become sediment, trapping the stored carbon in layers that eventually turn into rock or minerals.

• When any organic material is reacted (BURNED) in the presence of oxygen to give off the products of carbon dioxide and water and energy.

• When carbon moves from living things to the atmosphere as they EXHALE, releasing carbon dioxide gas (CO₂).

• A process that occurs in the mitochondria of all organisms. In this process, both plants and animals BREAK DOWN CARBOHYDRATES into carbon dioxide and water and release energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Multiple Choice

All living things are made up of molecules that contain carbon - TRUE or FALSE

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere - TRUE or FALSE

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Producers capture the carbon dioxide and convert it to glucose through the process of respiration - TRUE or FALSE

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Atmospheric carbon dioxide produces greenhouse effect by trapping heat near Earth's surface - TRUE or FALSE

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Carbon in the atmosphere (air) is found in the form of -

• Glucose sugars C₆H₁₂O₆

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas

• Carbonate rocks: limestone (CaCO₃)

• Dissolved CO₂ and carbonic acid H₂CO₃

Multiple Choice

One example of carbon in the geosphere (rocks) is found in the form of -

• Glucose sugars C₆H₁₂O₆

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas

• Limestone (CaCO₃)

• Dissolved CO₂ and carbonic acid H₂CO₃

Multiple Choice

Carbon in the hydrosphere (water) is found in the form of -

• Glucose sugars C₆H₁₂O₆

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas

• Limestone (CaCO₃)

• Dissolved CO₂ and carbonic acid H₂CO₃

Multiple Choice

Carbon in the biosphere (plants) is found in the form of -

• Glucose sugars C₆H₁₂O₆

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas

• Limestone (CaCO₃)

• Dissolved CO₂ and carbonic acid H₂CO₃

Multiple Choice

How do consumers obtain carbon (in the form of carbohydrates)?

• cellular respiration

• photosynthesis

• eating other organisms

• burning fossil fuels

Multiple Choice

How do producers obtain carbon (in the form of carbohydrates)?

• cellular respiration

• photosynthesis

• eating other organisms

• burning fossil fuels

Multiple Choice

When plants and animals die carbon is released from their tissues through -

• cellular respiration

• photosynthesis

• decomposition

• combustion

Multiple Choice

Just like terrestrial plants, photosynthetic algae and certain bacteria in the ocean take in dissolved carbon dioxide in water during -

• cellular respiration

• photosynthesis

• decomposition

• combustion

Multiple Choice

Fossil fuels are underground ______ made of organisms that died millions of years ago.

• carbon

• nitrogen

• phosphorus

• water

Multiple Choice

Which of the following human activities has the greatest impact on the carbon cycle?

• cellular respiration

• decomposition

• burning of fossil fuels

• using fertilizers

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a carbon source?

Hint: Anything that releases more carbon into atmosphere than it absorbs.

• burning fossil fuels

• the ocean

• organic matter in the soil

• fossil fuels and sedimentary rocks such as limestone

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a carbon sink?

Hint: Anything that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases

• burning fossil fuels

• the ocean

• deforestation

• volcanic eruption