Carbon cycles through every sphere of our planet. What is important to understand about the amount of carbon as it cycles through these spheres

Question

Amount of carbon decreases as the carbon cycles through planets over time
Amount of carbon increases as the carbon cycles through the planet over time
Carbon cycles through the planet but has no effect on the different parts of the planet
Amount of carbon remains the same throughout time but gets cycled through different parts of the planet

Answer 1

The most accurate statement regarding the carbon cycle is:

Amount of carbon remains the same throughout time but gets cycled through different parts of the planet.

This reflects the principle of conservation of mass, which states that while carbon can change forms and move between different spheres (such as the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere), the total amount of carbon on Earth remains constant over time. It is continuously cycled through various processes like photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, volcanic eruptions, and fossil fuel combustion, but the overall quantity of carbon does not increase or decrease.