Explanation of carbon cycle

Give a brief explanation of carbon cycle.

E

Expert

Verified

The carbon cycle is that cycle which represents the recycling and circulation of chemical element carbon in nature due to the action of the living beings.

Photosynthetic beings soak up carbon as carbon dioxide accessible in atmosphere and the carbon atoms become part or division of glucose molecules. Throughout the cellular respiration of such beings, part of this organic material is consumed to produce ATP and in this procedure, carbon dioxide is returned to atmosphere. Other part is incorporated through the photosynthetic organisms in the molecules which compose their structure. The carbon atoms incorporated in producers are transferred to next tropic level and again part is released by cellular respiration of consumers, part becomes component of the consumer body and part is emitted as uric acid or urea (excretes later recycled through decomposer bacteria). Thus, carbon absorbed by producers in photosynthesis returns to atmosphere by cellular respiration along the food chain till the decomposers which also release carbon dioxide in their energetic metabolism. In special conditions in a procedure, which takes millions of years carbon incorporated in organisms might also constitute fossil fuels stored in the deposits under the surface of the planet as fossil fuels burn carbon atoms return to atmosphere as carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide. The burning of vegetable fuels, like wood, as well returns carbon to atmosphere.

   Related Questions in Biology

©TutorsGlobe All rights reserved 2022-2023.