Carbon Cycle Flashcards
1
Q
what happens when plants photosynthesis?
A
carbon atoms from carbon dioxide become part of glucose molecules (stored as starch) in the plant
2
Q
carbon cycle explanation:
A
- some of the glucose will be broken down by the plant in respiration - the carbon in the glucose becomes part of the carbon dioxide molecule again, and is released back into the air
- some of the carbon compounds in the plant will be eaten by animals. the animals respire, releasing some of it back into the air as carbon dioxide.
- when the plant or animal dies, decomposers (bacteria and fungi) will feed on them. the carbon becomes part of the decomposers’ bodies. when they respire they release carbon dioxide into the air again.
- fossilisation occurs when living things do not decay fully when they die due to the conditions in the soil. fossil fuels are then formed over millions of years by a process called locking in. these
include coal, oil, natural gas and peat. - when fossil fuels are burnt (combustion), carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
3
Q
A