Carbon atoms are part of the carbon cycle, the movement of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms in the earth and then back into the atmosphere over and over again. Recall that plants remove carbon dioxide from the air and use it to make glucose during photosynthesis. Within the plant's body, carbon atoms might move from the glucose to a protein in a leaf cell. Then, when the plant dies and decays, the protein is broken down. The carbon atoms move into carbon dioxide molecules and again become part of the atmosphere. In another scenario, the plant may be eaten by a grasshopper and become part of its muscle. When the grasshopper dies and decays, the carbon returns to the atmosphere in a carbon dioxide molecule. Carbon also enters the atmosphere when carbon-rich fossil fuels formed millions of years ago when ancient plans, algae, and animals died and were buried. The dead plants, algae, and animals gradually decayed and became fossil fuels. Coal is burned in many power plants. Fuels refined from crude oil, power most car, bus, airplane, and truck engines.

Question

Carbon atoms are part of the carbon cycle, the movement of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms in the earth and then back into the atmosphere over and over again. Recall that plants remove carbon dioxide from the air and use it to make glucose during photosynthesis. Within the plant's body, carbon atoms might move from the glucose to a protein in a leaf cell. Then, when the plant dies and decays, the protein is broken down. The carbon atoms move into carbon dioxide molecules and again become part of the atmosphere. In another scenario, the plant may be eaten by a grasshopper and become part of its muscle. When the grasshopper dies and decays, the carbon returns to the atmosphere in a carbon dioxide molecule. Carbon also enters the atmosphere when carbon-rich fossil fuels formed millions of years ago when ancient plans, algae, and animals died and were buried. The dead plants, algae, and animals gradually decayed and became fossil fuels. Coal is burned in many power plants. Fuels refined from crude oil, power most car, bus, airplane, and truck engines.
Carbon cycle: Nature's way of reusing carbon atoms which travel from the atmosphere into organisms and then back into the atmosphere, over and over again. For questions 18-21 use the drop down menu to identify the movement in the carbon cycle.
A. photosynthesis
B. respiration
C. combustion
D. Fossil fuels

In what order would these go in, from 1 to 4

GPT-4o mini · Answer

To arrange the processes in the carbon cycle from 1 to 4, we can think about the common sequence of carbon movement:

A. Photosynthesis - This is the process where plants take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into glucose, incorporating carbon into their structure.
B. Respiration - Organisms, including plants and animals, then use the glucose through cellular respiration, releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.
D. Fossil fuels - Over millions of years, the remains of dead plants and animals can become fossil fuels, which store carbon.
C. Combustion - The carbon stored in fossil fuels is released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide when these fuels are burned.

So the order is: 1. A (Photosynthesis), 2. B (Respiration), 3. D (Fossil Fuels), 4. C (Combustion).