The Carbon

Cycle Steps

Carbon enters the atmosphere ascarbon dioxidefrom

respiration (breathing) and combustion (burning).

Carbon dioxide is absorbed by producers (life forms that

make their own food) to makecarbohydratesin
photosynthesis . These producers then put off oxygen.

Animals feed on the plants. Thus passing the carbon compounds along the food chain.
Most of the carbon these animals consume however is exhaled ascarbon dioxide.
This is through the process of respiration. The animals and plants then eventuallydie.

The

dead

organisms

(dead

animals

and

plants)

are

eaten

bydecomposers in the ground.The carbon that was in their bodies

is then returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. In some
circumstances the process of decomposition is prevented. The
decomposed plants and animals may then be available asfossil
fuelin the future for combustion.

Main chemical reactions in the

carbon cycle
Main chemical reactions in the carbon cycle
C + O2 ----->CO2
The type of reaction is synthesis
Respiration
Aerobic respiration may be represented by the general
equation
C6H12O6 + 6O26CO2 + 6H2O
The type of reaction is single replacement
Fossil Fuels
combustion of methaneCH4(g) + 2 O2(g) CO2(g) + 2
H2O(g)
burning of naphthaleneC10H8 + 12 O2 10 CO2 + 4 H2O

Main chemical reactions in the

carbon cycle
Combustion of ethane
2 C2H6 + 7 O2 4 CO2 + 6 H2O --The type of reaction is
Combustion
General Form of a Combustion Reaction
hydrocarbon + oxygen carbon dioxde + water
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is not a single chemical reaction, but rather a
set of
chemical reactions. The overall reaction is:
6CO2 + 12H2O + light C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O
The type of reaction is Endothermic

How has increased the concentration

of CO 2 in the atmosphere
The concentration of carbon dioxide
has increase by some human activities
like the burning of fossil fuels (like
coal, oil and natural gas) in industry,
the transport and the generation of
electricity
that
releases
carbon
dioxide. Also the production of cement
contributes 5% of all man-made
carbon dioxide.

Causes of increasing concentration of CO 2 in the

atmosphere.
A certain amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) occurs
naturally in the Earth's atmosphere, there are several
human activities that increase levels of the greenhouse
gas
The main human activity that emits CO2 is the
combustion of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil) for
energy and transportation like:
Consuming electricity: Burning fossil fuels emits CO2,
with coal releasing twice as much of the gas as
petroleum. The number of coal-burning plants will
increase as China and India continue to industrialize.
Currently, 41 percent of CO2 emissions in the U.S. arise
from generating electricity.

Transportation: Whether for business or pleasure,

Causes of increasing concentration

of CO 2 in the atmosphere.
Building: Industrial manufacturing emits lots of
CO2, but it only accounts for 2 percent of U.S.
emissions. Iron and steel manufacturing and
cement production are the biggest offenders.

Deforestation: Trees are potent organisms for

absorbing and removing CO2 emissions from the
air. Cutting them down stops that process. Although
deforestation is a minor source of increased CO2
,loss of forestlands account for 20 percent of global
CO2 emissions. Burning trees for fuel and natural
decomposition of forest material also release CO2.

Effects of increasing concentration

of CO 2 in the atmosphere.
Effects

-Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have been steadily

rising, from approximately 315 ppm in 1959 to a current atmospheric
average of approximately 385 ppm .Current projections are for
concentrations to continue to rise to as much as 5001000 ppm by the
year 2100 .

-rising CO2 concentrations are also likely to have profound direct effects
on the growth, physiology, and chemistry of plants, independent of any
effects on climate

Sea level rise - densely settled coastal plains would become

uninhabitable with just a small rise in sea level, which would result from
melting of the ice caps

Effects of increasing concentration

of CO 2 in the atmosphere.
Impacts on agriculture - Global warming could have major effects on
agricultural productivity

Reduction of the ozone layer - Warming would result in increase high

cloud cover in winter, giving chemical reactions a platform in the
atmosphere, which could result in depletion of the ozone layer

Increased extreme weather - A warmer climate could change the

weather systems of the earth, meaning there would be more droughts
and floods, and more frequent and stronger storms

Spread of diseases - Diseases would be able to spread to areas which

were previously too cold for them to survive in

Ecosystem change - As with the diseases, the range of plants and

animals would change, with the net effect of most organisms moving
towards the North and South Poles

Chemical reactions involved in the

global warming and their classification

Some of the chemical reactions

involved in global warming are:
Combustion:
hydrocarbon + oxygen carbon
dioxde + water
Cellular respiration, exothermic
reaction.
C6H12O6 + 6O2 --> 6CO2 + 6H2O +

Greenhouse gasses like :

carbon dioxide, type of reaction
Synthesis.
C + O2 ----->CO2
methane (CH4): Type of reaction,
combustion
CH4(g) + 2 O2(g) CO2(g) + 2 H2O(g)
And nitrous oxide (N2O)
2 N2 + O2 ----> 2 N2O

Personal opinion to solve the

problem of global warming.
My conclusion is that we need and we have to
reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide, and all the
problems that cause global warming because if we
continue like right now in the future the next
generations will be affected because of us and that
is not fair, and we need to think that our children,
cousins, and our family maybe us will be included in
"the next generations" so if we want a good style
life we need to maintain the carbon dioxide stable
because is needed for the carbon cycle but not in a
big amount, we need it but not in high levels,
because we ca altered a lot of things like plants ,
rise the level sea and affect the life as we known

Strategies to follow to solve the

problem of global warming.

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

2. Use Less Heat and Air Conditioning
3. Change a Light Bulb
4. Drive Less and Drive Smart
5. Buy Energy-Efficient Products
6. Use Less Hot Water
7. Use the "Off" Switch
Save electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights when
you leave a room, and using only as much light as you need.
8. Plant a Tree
9. Encourage Others to Conserve
Share information about recycling and energy conservation with your
friends, neighbors and co-workers, and take opportunities to
encourage public officials to establish programs and policies that are
good for the environment.