Carbon Cycle

• What is Carbon:

  • Main constituent of all living cells.
  • Can form long chained molecules which are the basis for fats, carbohydrates, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and proteins.
  • Component of fuel (coal and gas).
• What is photosynthesis:

  • A chemical reaction that takes place in the chloroplasts of green plant cells where light energy is used to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
• How does Photosynthesis contribute to the Carbon Cycle:

  • Carbon Dioxide is removed from the atmosphere during photosynthesis.
• Word equation for Photosynthesis:

  • Carbon Dioxide + Water → Oxygen + Glucose.
• What is Respiration:

  • A chemical reaction that takes place in the cells of living organisms where glucose is reacted with oxygen to release energy , carbon dioxide and water.
• How does Respiration contribute to the Carbon Cycle:

  • Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere during respiration.
• Word equation for respiration:

  • Oxygen + Glucose → Carbon Dioxide + Water.
• What is Combustion:

  • A chemical reaction, where a fuel is reacted with oxygen to release energy, carbon dioxide and water.
• How does Combustion contribute to the Carbon Cycle:

  • When fossil fuels are burned, the carbon compounds stored within them (they used to be living organisms) are released as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
• How is Carbon transferred from a plant into an animal:

  • When an animal eats a plant, some of the compounds made from carbon are digested and taken into its body. The rest will leave the animal’s body in faeces.
• Decay:

  • If plants and animals are not eaten and just die, their bodies are broken down by decay. Decay is caused by microorganisms called decomposers.
• Decomposers:

  • Decomposers include fungi and bacteria and they break down the carbon compounds in animal waste.
  • They use some of the carbon compounds they absorb for respiration and to make more complex compounds in their cells.
  • When they die they will be decayed by the other decomposers.
• Bacteria:

  A) Cell Wall

  B) Meosome

  C) Ribsomes

  D) Cytoplasm

  E) Bacterial Flagellum

  F) Plasma Membrane

  G) DNA(nucleoid)

  H) Capsule