Section 2.5 – The Carbon Cycle
1.
Why is carbon important?
Carbon is important because it is a key element of living things.
2. What is photosynthesis and cellular respiration? Why are they considered complimentary processes?
(Be sure to include the formula for each one).
- Photosynthesis is the process in which plants which plants use solar energy, carbon dioxide from
the atmosphere, and water from the soil to make sugar.
- Cellular respiration uses sugar and oxygen for energy and releases carbon back into the
environment.
- Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration are considered complimentary processes because the raw
materials for one process are the products of the other and vice versa.
Photosynthesis
Carbon
+
dioxide
CO2
+
Cellular Respiration
Glucose
+
C6H12O6
+
Water
+
H2O
+

Light
Energy
light

Oxygen

Water
+
O2

H2O
+
Sugar
(glucose)
C6H12O6
+
Oxygen
+
O2
Carbon
dioxide
CO2
3. What is combustion and how does it affect the carbon cycle?
Combustion is the burning of fossil fuels (reaction that occurs when a substance reacts with oxygen and
releases energy). It allows carbon to be released back into the atmosphere at a faster rate.
4. Where can you find inorganic carbon stores?
Inorganic carbon stores can be found in the atmosphere, the oceans and the Earth’s crust.
5. Where can you find organic carbon stores?
Organic carbon stores can be found in the bodies of living things. The only exception to this are bogs
which have large quantities of organic carbon which may be stored for years as peat.
6. What is peat?
Peat is dead plant matter.
7. Explain how humans have changed the carbon cycle.
Humans have modified the carbon cycle by release large quantities of inorganic carbon from reservoirs
faster than they normally would.
- Mining
- Coal burning
- Fossil fuels
- Burning forests
- Clearing away vegetation to build farms
8. How are decomposers important in the carbon cycle?
Decomposers are important to the carbon cycle because they release carbon from dead organisms.
9. How would the burning of the rainforests, to make agricultural land, affect the carbon cycle?
Burning the rainforest reduces oxygen supply in the atmosphere because much less photosynthesis
occurs in the resulting field. The plants from the rainforest are not available to recycle the carbon and
release oxygen. Reduced oxygen levels make it more difficult for plants and animals to carry on
respiration.
Section 2.5 – The Carbon Cycle
1. Why is carbon important?
2. What is photosynthesis and cellular respiration? Why are they considered complimentary processes?
(Be sure to include the formula for each one).
3. What is combustion and how does it affect the carbon cycle?
4. Where can you find inorganic carbon stores?
5. Where can you find organic carbon stores?
6. What is peat?
7. Explain how humans have changed the carbon cycle.
8. How are decomposers important in the carbon cycle?
9. How would the burning of the rainforests, to make agricultural land, affect the carbon cycle?
Section 2.5 – The Carbon Cycle
1. Why is carbon important?
2. What is photosynthesis and cellular respiration? Why are they considered complimentary processes?
(Be sure to include the formula for each one).
3. What is combustion and how does it affect the carbon cycle?
4. Where can you find inorganic carbon stores?
5. Where can you find organic carbon stores?
6. What is peat?
7. Explain how humans have changed the carbon cycle.
8. How are decomposers important in the carbon cycle?
9. How would the burning of the rainforests, to make agricultural land, affect the carbon cycle?
Section 2.5 – The Carbon Cycle
1. Why is carbon important?
2. What is photosynthesis and cellular respiration? Why are they considered complimentary processes?
(Be sure to include the formula for each one).
3. What is combustion and how does it affect the carbon cycle?
4. Where can you find inorganic carbon stores?
5. Where can you find organic carbon stores?
6. What is peat?
7. Explain how humans have changed the carbon cycle.
8. How are decomposers important in the carbon cycle?
9. How would the burning of the rainforests, to make agricultural land, affect the carbon cycle?