Understanding Carbon and the Carbon Cycle

What is the atomic symbol for carbon?

• Cr

• Co

• Ca

• C

Which of the following is a compound that contains carbon?

• NaCl

• CH4

• O2

• H2O

During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water are converted into what?

• Glucose and oxygen

• Ethanol and oxygen

• Methane and water

• Carbon monoxide and hydrogen

What is the reverse process of photosynthesis?

• Oxidation

• Fermentation

• Respiration

• Combustion

How do animals obtain glucose for respiration?

• By breathing

• By photosynthesis

• By eating plants

• By absorbing sunlight

What role do microorganisms play in the carbon cycle?

• They decay dead matter

• They absorb carbon dioxide

• They produce oxygen

• They fix nitrogen

What is released when fossil fuels are burned?

• Carbon dioxide

• Nitrogen

• Oxygen

• Hydrogen

How long does it take for carbon to be locked in fossil fuels?

• A few years

• Decades

• Centuries

• Millions of years

What happens to carbon when it is burned in fossil fuels?

• It is stored in the ground

• It is released into the atmosphere

• It is converted into water

• It is absorbed by plants

In the carbon cycle, how can carbon atoms from a cow end up in a plant?

• Through photosynthesis

• Through decay

• Through combustion

• Through respiration