Question

the carbon cycle

1. define the terms:

term definition
biosphere
atmosphere
pedosphere
geosphere
hydrosphere

1. how does carbon go from the air into a human’s body?
2. what does photosynthesis turn carbon into?
3. how does carbon go from a mammal’s body back into the air?
4. what do fungi and bacteria do in the carbon cycle?
5. what 3 molecules are in volcanic eruptions?
6. what does it mean to be a carbon sink?
7. how important are the oceans to the carbon cycle? explain.

Explanation:

1. Biosphere: The part of the Earth where life exists, including all living organisms and their interactions with the environment.
2. Atmosphere: The layer of gases surrounding the Earth, composed mainly of nitrogen, oxygen, and trace amounts of other gases.
3. Pedosphere: The soil - containing part of the Earth's crust, which is involved in many biogeochemical processes.
4. Geosphere: The solid part of the Earth, including rocks, minerals, and landforms.
5. Hydrosphere: All the water on or near the Earth's surface, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater.
6. Carbon in the air as carbon - dioxide enters a human's body through the food chain. Plants take in carbon - dioxide during photosynthesis and are then consumed by humans directly or indirectly.
7. Photosynthesis turns carbon (in the form of carbon - dioxide) into organic compounds like glucose.
8. Carbon goes from a mammal's body back into the air through respiration (exhaling carbon - dioxide) and decomposition after death.
9. Fungi and bacteria break down dead organic matter in the carbon cycle, releasing carbon back into the atmosphere or soil as carbon - dioxide or other carbon - containing compounds.
10. Three common molecules in volcanic eruptions are water vapor ($H_2O$), carbon - dioxide ($CO_2$), and sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$).
11. A carbon sink is a natural or artificial reservoir that accumulates and stores some carbon - containing chemical compounds for an indefinite period, effectively removing carbon - dioxide from the atmosphere.
12. The oceans are very important to the carbon cycle. They absorb a large amount of carbon - dioxide from the atmosphere, store carbon in the form of dissolved inorganic carbon and in marine organisms, and also release carbon back to the atmosphere under certain conditions.

Answer:

1. Biosphere: The part of Earth with life.

Atmosphere: Gaseous layer around Earth.
Pedosphere: Soil - containing Earth's crust part.
Geosphere: Solid part of Earth.
Hydrosphere: All Earth's surface and near - surface water.

1. Through the food chain as plants take in carbon - dioxide and are consumed.
2. Organic compounds like glucose.
3. Through respiration and decomposition.
4. Break down dead organic matter, releasing carbon.
5. Water vapor ($H_2O$), carbon - dioxide ($CO_2$), sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$).
6. A reservoir that accumulates and stores carbon - containing compounds, removing carbon - dioxide from the atmosphere.
7. They absorb, store, and release carbon, playing a crucial role in regulating atmospheric carbon - dioxide levels.