Carbon Cycle Flashcards
What is the equation for photosynthesis?
6CO2 + 6H2O ——> 6O2 + C6H12O6
What is the name of the only process that takes carbon out of the atmosphere?
Photosynthesis.
What is excretion?
The removal of waste products
What is the name of the toxic materials taken in from the environment?
Urea.
What is egestion?
The removal of food that has NOT been digested or absorbed.
What happens during the process of FEEDING?
Animals eat plants and other animals and so the carbon is built up into other organic compounds and can be transferred further up the food chain.
What happens during respiration in the carbon cycle?
When plants, animals and decomposers respire they return carbon compounds to the atmosphere as CO2.
What type of things does EXCRETION remove?
The removal of carbon dioxide and water from respiration.
What happens during the process of decomposition in the carbon cycle?
Carbon compounds in dead plants and animals and in faeces from egestion, are broken down into simpler products. And the decomposes break them down, they will also respire releasing CO2 into the atmosphere.
What happens during fossilisation?
When some plants and animals die, the environmental conditions are not favourable for the process of decomposition. The dead organism DO NOT decay or do so very slowly and thus accumulate and are preserved in large quantities.
Why might a plant not be able to go through decomposition?
If it is waterlogged.
What happens during combustion?
When carbon rich reserves of coal, oil and gas are burned the carbon is returned to the atmosphere.
How can this system stay as balanced as possible?
The plants use up the carbon dioxide as quickly as it is made.
What are the seven processes of the carbon cycle?
- Photosynthesis
- Feeding
- Respiration
- Excretion and egestion
- Decomposition
- Fossilisation
- Combustion
Can you explain why burning fossil fuels releases CO2?
Carbon is locked up inside the fossil, react with O2 in atmosphere to give CO2.
