main processes

• photosynthesis

  light

  6CO2 + 6H2O —> C6.H12.O6 + 6O2

  chlorophyll
• photosynthesis (word)

  carbon dioxide + water —> glucose + oxygen
• 1. feeding

  • animals eat plants and other animals
  • carbon is built up into organic compounds
  • transferred up food chain
• 2. respiration

  • they respire and release carbon compounds back into atmosphere
• 3a excretion

  removal of waste products that have been produced by body or toxic material from environment

  removal of cO2 + water —> respiration
• 3b egestion 


  removal of food that has not been digested or absorbed e.g fibre
• 4. decomposition

  • carbon compound in dead plants and animals and in faeces from egestion (3b) are broken down by simpler products.
  • decomposes respirate (release CO2)
• 5. fossilisation

  -environment conditions are not favourable for decomposition (waterlogged or anaerobic) organisms do not decay

  -preserved large quantities (peat in bog) change to fossils to produce fossil fuels
• 6. combustion

  coal, oil and gas burned and return to atmosphere as CO2 (carbon)
• carbon cycle

  1.. feeding

  2. respiration

  3. excretion and egestion

  4. decomposition

  5. fossilisation

  6. combustion