B17.3 The carbon cycle

Question 1

What are carbon sinks?

Answer 1

Where carbon can be absorbed and stored inside of them

Question 2

What is the importance of photosynthesis?

Answer 2

Green plants and algae remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for photosynthesis. Use CO2 to make proteins and fat - which makes up the biomass

Question 3

How is carbon dioxide returned to the environment when its inside the body?

Answer 3

Respiration is exhaled into the surroundings
When plants/animals die their bodies are broken down by decomposers - carbon is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide as the decomposers respire

Question 4

What is combustion?

Answer 4

Burning of fuels - which can release carbon lock inside the molecule

Question 5

What is the equation for phosynthesis?

Answer 5

Carbon dioxide + Water makes glucose + oxygen

Question 6

What is the equation for respiration?

Answer 6

Glucose + oxygen makes carbon dioxide + Water

Question 7

What are the steps in the carbon cycle?

Answer 7

Organic compounds in dead animals turn into fossil fuels - and then CO2 gets released due to combustion or gets decayed and CO2 gets released as the bacteria respires which leads to CO2 in the air that can either be absorbed into the oceans or photosynthesis removes it and then provides oxygen to the animal and the cycle repeats. Respiration also returns CO2 into the atmosphere