Carbon

Question 1

Why carbon?

Answer 1

it’s how living things build their bodies

Question 2

Photosynthesis describes the outcome of 2 processes

Answer 2

1. harvesting of energy from sunlight
2. fixing that energy

Question 3

The “most limiting resource” concept

Answer 3

Basically, the lowest [ ] of an element dictates how much of a product can be made/ or a process can happen.

(basically limiting reagent from chem)

Question 4

What limits the amount of carbon being fixed?

Answer 4

the [ ] and/or the availability of carbon

Question 5

What is the influence of temperature on solubility?

Answer 5

solubility decreases as temp increases as gases are help easier in solution in colder temp than hot

Question 6

C4 photosynthesis

Answer 6

gain access to HCO3- rather than dissolved CO2 through modified rubisco

can keep the stomata closed more often bc can saturate the local environment with co2 to reduce the chance of photorespiration

Question 7

CAM photosynthesis

Answer 7

stomata open at night, less water lost with CO2 diffusion, stomata closed in the day

Question 8

What is the thermal “skin” of water

Answer 8

Infinitely thin layer of water that is colder than the rest of the water b/c the top layer is being evaporated.
the “skin” facilitates the uptake of co2

Question 9

What needs to happen to CO2 to be in long term storage?

Answer 9

co2 needs to get into deep water so that it stays in solution longer (for a couple of centuries)