Asked by caleb

How does water facilitate carbon dioxide absorption in the carbon cycle?

by releasing CO2 from aquatic plants

by storing CO2 in ice caps

by dissolving CO2 and forming carbonic acid

by converting CO2 into oxygen

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
by dissolving CO2 and forming carbonic acid

CO2 dissolves in water to form carbonic acid (H2CO3), which partly dissociates into bicarbonate (HCO3–) and carbonate (CO32–). This process lets oceans and freshwater act as major carbon reservoirs, supplies dissolved inorganic carbon for aquatic photosynthesis, and buffers pH.