Carbon Cycle
Carbon cycles through Earth’s environment in several forms. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a gas in the air or dissolved in water. It is the source of carbon in living things. Algae and green plants produce carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water are changed into carbohydrates. The animals get the carbohydrates when they eat the plants. When animals breathe, or respire, the carbon is returned to the atmosphere in carbon dioxide. Carbon is also present in animal wastes and in the bodies of dead animals and plants. Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, help release the carbon to the environment. The carbon found in fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, collected over millions of years.
How many different forms of carbon can you find in the diagram?
credit: Amy Todd