What Is Carbon l An element that bonds

What Is Carbon? l An element that bonds with other elements to form compounds. Organic compounds (formed only by living things): Carbohydrates, fats, proteins Inorganic compounds (not formed by living things): Carbon dioxide, chalk 1

l Carbon cannot be created or destroyed on the earth. l The same carbon atoms are used repeatedly on earth by changing form. 2

Where Is Carbon? Carbon atoms continually move through living organisms, the oceans, the atmosphere, and the crust of the planet. 3

The Carbon Cycle l This movement is known as the carbon cycle. 4

From the atmosphere to plants l Plants pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it to make glucose– this process is known as ____? ____ l The carbon becomes part of the plant (stored food). 5

Animals Eat Plants l When organisms eat plants, they take in the carbon and some of it becomes part of their own bodies. l The carbon that is in the plant moves to the animals that eat them. 6

Animals eat other animals Animals that eat other animals get the carbon from the meat of the animals they eat. 7

Plants and Animal Die l When plants and animals die, their bodies are broken down by organisms call decomposers. l Decomposers return the carbon to the soil. 8

Plants and Animal Die l Some plants and animals are not decomposed fully and become buried. After millions of years, the carbon ends up in fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas) 9

Animals exhale Each time you exhale, you are releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This carbon comes from the breakdown of glucose through the process of ____? ____ 10

Carbon dissolves in water l The ocean and other bodies of water soak up some carbon from the atmosphere. Oceans contain earth’s largest store of carbon 11

Rock breaks down l When rocks break down they can add carbon to surface water which eventually runs off to the ocean 12