Concept 8.4 Summary

Carbon Cycle-Carbon moves from inorganic (carbon dioxide) to organic (sugar) and back.
e.g: 1. producer (grass) >>> photosynthesis >>> organic
2. consumer eats producer >>> organic
3. consumer eats consumer >>> organic
4. both producer & consumer >>> inorganic

*No other chemical process on the planet matches the output of photosynthesis.

Greenhouse effect-CO2 in the atmosphere traps heat from the sun (would otherwise escape from Earth back to space.) >>> Keeps the world climate warm enough for living things.

*The greenhouse effect keeps the average temperature on Earth some 10'c warmer than it would be otherwise.


Concept Check 8.4
1. Give an example of carbon moving from an inorganic compound to an organic compound in the carbon cycle. Give an example of carbon moving from an organic to an inorganic compound.
Plants (producers) produce glucose (organic) through the process of photosynthesis. It uses carbon dioxide (inorganic).
Humans (consumers) release carbon dioxide (inorganic) through te process of respiration, which needs glucose (organic) as the reactant.

2. How is carbon dioxide important to Earth's climate?
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere traps heat from the sun so that it would not escape from Earth back into space (greenhouse effect).


Vocabulary
Carbon cycle-the process by which carbon moves from inorganic to organic compounds and back.
Greenhouse effect-a property of carbon dioxide which keeps the world climate warm enough for living things.