Carbon Cycle

Vocabulary flashcards related to the carbon cycle.

Photosynthesis

The process used by plants to convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbohydrate (C6H12O6).

Respiration

The process by which animals use carbohydrate (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).

Carbon Cycle

The process by which carbon is recycled through the environment.

Decomposition

The process by which waste and dead matter are broken down returning it to the soil.

Fossil Fuels

A fuel (such as coal, oil, or natural gas) that is formed in the earth from dead plants or animals.

Cellular Respiration

The process through which organisms combine oxygen with foodstuff molecules, diverting the chemical energy in these substances into life-sustaining activities and discarding, as waste products, carbon dioxide and water.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.

Metabolism

The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life.