The Carbon Cycle Steps

The Carbon Cycle Steps

Carbon enters the atmosphere as carbon dioxide from respiration (breathing) and combustion (burning).

Carbon dioxide is absorbed by producers (life forms that make their own food) to make carbohydrates in 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 as carbon dioxide. This is

through the process of respiration. The animals and plants then eventually die.

The dead organisms (dead animals and plants) are eaten by decomposers 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 as fossil fuel in 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 synthesisRespiration• Aerobic respiration may be represented by the general equation• C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 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 gasThe 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, locomotion is the second largest source of U.S. CO2 emissions. International travel is also a factor. A study of cruise ships found that vacationing at sea emits 12 times more CO2 than vacationing on land.

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 500–1000 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 + energy

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.