Unit 5A Test Carbon Cycle and Gas Laws

photosynthesis

when plants use carbon dioxide from the air to make sugars and release oxygen into the atmosphere

EQUATION: 6H2O + 6CO2 →6O2 + C6H12O6

combustion

the burning of a substance that releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. When humans burn fuel and cut down trees they increase the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

cellular respiration

when sugar molecules are broken down by plants to release energy. carbon dioxide and water are released as byproducts of this process

EQUATION: 6O2 + C6H12O2 →6H2O + 6CO2

decomposition

the breakdown of substances into simpler molecules

ATMOSPHERE → BIOSPHERE

photosynthesis

BIOSPHERE → ATMOSPHERE

cellular respiration

BIOSPHERE →GEOSPHERE

decomposition or fossiliation

GEOSPHERE →ATMOSPHERE

combustion

ATMOSPHERE →HYDROSPHERE

dissovling

HYDROSPHERE →ATMOSPHERE

release

HYDROSPHERE →GEOSPHERE

fossilization and sedimentation

difference between natural carbon cycle and the carbon cycle that results from human interference

NATURAL:mostly balanced

HUMAN: not balanced! Too much CO2 going into the cycle and faster than the cycle can remove

three main types of fossil fuels

oil, natural gas, and coal

what is coal formed from

land plants

what are oil and natural gases formed from

marine organisms (plankton)

green house effect

where green house gases (such as CO2) trap heat so that the earth is warm enough to sustain life

ocean acidification

when the water becomes more acidic it can harm marine life

when does ocean adicification happen

it happens when the ocean absorbs too much CO2

how have humans intervened with the carbon cycle

we drive cars, burn gasoline, and have big factories