The Carbon Cycle.

By James Burrows, Nadia Molinero, Emilie Vanness and Tatijana Vujicic.

A chemical element Symbol “C” and atomic number 6, part of group 14 on the Periodic

Table. Non-metal and *tetravalent, only allowing 4 electrons to form

chemical bonds with it. Found in 2 major forms; diamond and graphite Found impurely in charcoal, soot and coal. Fourth most abundant element in the universe. Every organism on Earth needs carbon for either structure or

energy Found in forms such as gas carbon dioxide, to solids like

limestone, wood and plastic

*Tetravalent: having a valence of four

What is Carbon?

The sun The stars Comets Atmospheres of most planets Nearly every single living

thing

Where is Carbon Found?

Pools Amount in billions of metric tons.

Atmosphere 578 (in 1700) – 766 (in 1999)

Soil Organic Matter 1500 - 1600

Fossil Fuel Deposits 4000

Ocean 38,000 – 40,000

Marine Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks

66,000,000 – 100,000,000

Terrestrial Plants 540 - 610

Carbon Pools

Carbon is stored in the following major pools;

-Organic molecules in living or dead organisms-Carbon dioxide-Organic matter in soils-Fossil fuels and sedimentary rock deposits-Dissolved atmospheric carbon dioxide

What is the Carbon Cycle?

Biogeochemical processes where carbon is subjected to chemical reactions

Organic circulation of carbon from the atmosphere, into organisms and back

Moves through the atmosphere, oceans, water, living things, soil and geological deposits.

Changes form and moves through different reservoirs

The Carbon CycleCarbon Cycle.

Carbon is interchanged between active pools due to differing processes;

Photosynthesis and respiration between the land and the atmosphere, and diffusion between the ocean and the

atmosphere.

Biology plays an important role in movement of carbon between land, air, and ocean.

Multicellular life depends on production of sugars from sunlight and CO2.

Plants take in carbon dioxide and use sunlight to convert it to sugars and oxygen

When animals eat the plants, they acquire the carbon that was stored there

Biological Carbon Cycle

Geological Carbon Cycle

Component of the cycle that interacts with rock cycle

Carbonic acid forms by reaction with atmospheric carbon dioxide and water

Acidic rain reaches the Earth’s surface, and reacts with minerals

Through deposition and burial, calcite sediment forms limestone

Odorless gas produced by burning carbon Naturally present in the air Absorbed by plants during photosynthesis.

Carbon Dioxide.

Produced by…

*Volcanoes*Respiration*Burning fossil fuels*Decaying animals* burning rain forests*Cars

Significantly altering the natural carbon cycle

Burning of fossil fuels and deforestation increases CO2

Releases carbon faster than its being removed, causes an imbalance and CO2 concentrations to increase

Carbon dioxide increases atmospheres ability to hold heat, also known as greenhouse gases.

Human Alteration of the Carbon Cycle.

http://lesson-plans.theteacherscorner.net/science/experiments/raisins.php

http://www.vtaide.com/png/carbonCycle.htm

http://www.visionlearning.com/library/module_viewer.php?mid=95

http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/C/CarbonCycle.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/11226/why.htm

Sites

The End

We’ve put together an experiment that you can do, so you can see carbon dioxide in

motion.

Experiment