2. Plants & The Carbon Cycle
• Plants take in carbon
dioxide and convert it to
sugar which can be stored
until used for energy.
• This process is called
photosynthesis.

3. Photosynthesis:
CO2 + H2O + sunlight
yields O2 + C6H12O6

4. Plants & The Carbon Cycle
• Plants release carbon
dioxide as a waste product
when they convert their
stored sugar to chemical
energy.
• This process is called
respiration.

5. Respiration:
C6H12O6 + O2 yields CO2 +
H2O + energy

6. Animals & The Carbon
Cycle
• Animals eat carbon
contained in animal and
plant tissues and release
carbon dioxide as a waste
product.
• This process is respiration.

7. Decay & The Carbon Cycle:
• Decomposers release the
carbon from dead plant
and animal tissues back
into the atmosphere.

8. Fossil Fuels & The Carbon
Cycle:
• Over millions
of years fossil
fuels may
form from the
buried
remains of
plants and
animals.

9. Fossil Fuels & The Carbon
Cycle:
• This carbon
reenters the
atmosphere
during
combustion.

10. The Oceans & The Carbon
Cycle:
• Dissolved
carbon
dioxide in sea
water
becomes
deposited as
calcium
carbonate
shells.

11. The Oceans & The Carbon
Cycle:
• Over millions
of years,
these shells
form
sedimentary
rock.

13. • Ocean deposits are the
biggest sink of carbon on
the planet.
• The Rock Cycle ultimately
releases carbon stored in
sedimentary rock.