Carbon

What is the carbon cycle?

The movement of carbon through air, water, living things, and Earth.

What is a carbon sink?

Something that absorbs/stores carbon.

Examples of carbon sinks

Oceans, forests, soil.

What is a carbon source?

Something that releases carbon.

Examples of carbon sources

Cars, factories, volcanoes, burning fossil fuels.

What happens during photosynthesis?

Plants take in carbon dioxide and make oxygen and glucose.

Photosynthesis equation

6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2

Easy memory for photosynthesis

Plants inhale CO2.

What happens during cellular respiration?

Organisms break down glucose and release carbon dioxide.

Cellular respiration equation

C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy

Easy memory for respiration

Animals exhale CO2.

What is combustion of fossil fuels?

Burning coal, oil, or natural gas which releases carbon dioxide.

Easy memory for combustion

Burn fuel = release CO2.

How does agriculture affect the carbon cycle?

Cows release methane and deforestation removes carbon sinks.

How do landfills affect the carbon cycle?

Trash breaks down and releases methane.

What is ocean acidification?

The ocean becoming more acidic.

What causes ocean acidification?

Extra CO2 dissolving into the ocean.

How does ocean acidification affect marine life?

Harms coral reefs and weakens shells.

Easy memory for ocean acidification

More CO2 = sad ocean.

Human activities that impact the carbon cycle

Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, factories, farming.

How do humans affect the carbon cycle?

They add too much CO2 to the atmosphere.

What are fossil fuels?

Coal, oil, and natural gas.

Why do humans use fossil fuels?

For energy, transportation, electricity, and heating.

What is a primary pollutant?

A pollutant released directly into the air.

Examples of primary pollutants

Smoke, SO2, car exhaust.

Easy memory for primary pollutants

Primary = put directly in air.

What is a secondary pollutant?

A pollutant formed by reactions in the atmosphere.

Examples of secondary pollutants

Acid rain and photochemical smog.

Easy memory for secondary pollutants

Secondary = forms later in air.

What is acid deposition (acid rain)?

Rain made acidic by air pollution.

How does acid rain form?

SO2 reacts with water in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid.

Acid rain equation

SO2 + H2O → H2SO4

Is acid rain a primary or secondary pollutant?

Secondary pollutant.

What is pH?

A scale measuring how acidic or basic something is.

What is an acid on the pH scale?

Low pH.

What is a base on the pH scale?

High pH.

Effects of acid rain

Damages trees, lakes, fish, and buildings.

What is photochemical smog?

A type of air pollution made when sunlight reacts with pollutants.

Is photochemical smog primary or secondary?

Secondary pollutant.

How does photochemical smog form?

Sunlight reacts with pollution from cars and factories.

Effects of photochemical smog on humans

Asthma, coughing, trouble breathing.

Effects of photochemical smog on the environment

Damages plants and pollutes the air.

Easy memory for smog

Smog = hard to breathe.