THE CARBON CYCLE

By Makayla Butler

A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT

CARBON THE ELEMENT ITSELF
All life on earth is based on the carbon molecules.
From the Latin word for charcoal, carbo.
Atomic Number: 6
Atomic Weight: 12.0107
Melting Point: 3823 K (3550C or 6422F)
Boiling Point: 4098 K (3825C or 6917F)
Density: 2.2670 grams per cubic centimeter
Phase at Room Temperature: Solid
Element Classification: Non-metal
Period Number: 2 Group Number: 14

WHERE IS MOST OF EARTHS

CARBON?
Most of Earths carbon
is found in the ocean.
The ocean contains
38,000 PgC of
carbon. Most of this
carbon is found in the
dissolved form of
inorganic carbon

HOW DOES CARBON GET IN THE

OCEAN?

Carbon gets into the

ocean from air polluted
clouds that hold
unnatural gases like
carbon dioxide. So when
it rain and that rain gets
into the ocean so does
the carbon dioxide in
those rain clouds. This
type of rain is called acid
rain.

CHEMICAL EQUATION

CARBON CYCLE VOCABULARY:

Primary Producers: these organisms are autotrophs, they make their
own food and energy from the sun and chemical energy. They are able
to do this because of photosynthesis. Primary producers also collect
carbon and nutrients from the soil. A good example of a primary
producer would be a plant. They are eaten by secondary producers,
and decomposers when they die.
Secondary Producers: Organisms that consume other organisms
like, for instance a secondary producer can be an animal that eats
other animals or plants. These organisms are also known as
heterotrophs, which means they are unable to produce their own food
and energy, so they must obtain it from other organisms. A good
example of a secondary producer would be an animal They are eaten
by decomposers when they die.

MORE
VOCABULARY
Decomposers: Like secondary
producers, decomposers are
heterotrophs, which means they gain
energy from other organic substances.
The difference is that decomposers
break down dead or decaying
organisms, instead of living or newly
dead organisms. By doing this
decomposers carry out an important
role of the natural process of
decomposition, which then helps
carbon return to the soil and continue
the carbon cycle.

Human activities like

heating homes, and
burning fossil fuels
gives off carbon into
the atmosphere.
During respiration,
animals also
introduce carbon
into the atmosphere
in the form of
carbon dioxide.

STEP 1: CARBON CYCLE

 Carbon dioxide is
absorbed by
producers (life forms
that make their own
food e.g. Carbon
dioxide is absorbed
by producers (life
forms that make
their own food e.g.
plants) to make
carbohydrates in
photosynthesis .
These producers
then put off oxygen

STEP 2: CARBON CYCLE

STEP 3: CARBON CYCLE

WHAT HAPPENS TO CARBON DIOXIDE IN OUR
ATMOSPHERE?
When animals
feed on plants,
they pass carbon
compounds
through their food
chains. Animals
give off carbon
dioxide into the
atmosphere
during respiration.

STEP 4: CARBON CYCLE

In this final step;
when organisms die
they are eaten by
decomposers like
fungi in the ground.
The previous carbon
is then returned to
the atmosphere as
cabon dioxide.

FOSSIL FUELS
Occationally the final
step of the carbon
cycle is prevented,
leaving the organisms
unable to decompose
after death, When this
happens the
organisms are stored
in the ground, to later
become fossil fuels,
which will then be
used for combustion in
the future.