The carbon cycle

• What is the starting point of the carbon cycle?

  Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
• How does carbon enter the carbon cycle?

  Through photosynthesis
• What do plants combine with carbon dioxide during photosynthesis?

  Water
• What is produced during photosynthesis?

  Glucose
• Who carries out photosynthesis?

  Plants and algae
• What process returns carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?

  Aerobic respiration
• What do all living organisms carry out?

  Respiration
• How are respiration and breathing different?

  Respiration is a cellular process
• What are the two key processes in the carbon cycle?

  Photosynthesis and respiration
• What happens to carbon in plants and algae during respiration?

  Some carbon is released as carbon dioxide
• How do animals obtain carbon from plants?

  By eating plants
• What happens to carbon in animals after they respire?

  Some carbon is released as carbon dioxide
• What do animals release as waste products?

  Faeces
• What happens to carbon in dead remains?

  It is broken down by decomposers
• What do decomposers return to the atmosphere during respiration?

  Carbon dioxide
• What do decomposers release to the soil?

  Mineral ions
• What happens to carbon in dead remains under low oxygen conditions?

  It can be converted to fossil fuels
• What is released back to the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned?

  Carbon dioxide