BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLESCarbon Cycle

Law of Conservation of Matter: Matter can NOT be created or destroyed, it changes form

Biogeochemical cycles: matter is constantly being cycled through changing form

Bio = life Geo = earth Chemical= essential elements and

compounds H20= water C= carbon O=oxygen N= nitrogen CO2= carbon dioxide

Cycle= move from beginning to end Not always a beginning or end

Continuous Biogeochemical Cycle: essential

elements and compounds moving among living organisms (bio), the earth (geo) and atmosphere

Carbon Cycle ** Photosynthesis: process by which

plants use the energy from sunlight to produce sugar

Sun + CO2 + H2O C6H12O2 (sugar)

Cellular Respiration: process by which cells harvest the energy stored in food

C6H12O6 (sugar) CO2 + H2O + energy

Combustion: burning Uses O2

Releases CO2

Decomposition: organisms breaking down into simple elements.