The Carbon Cycle and Fossil Fuels

• Fossil fuels are named after the prehistoric plant and animal remains they originate from.

Carbon Composition

• Humans are composed of 18% carbon.
• Plants are composed of 45% carbon.
• All living things on Earth contain carbon.

Carbon and Compounds

• Carbon is an element that easily combines with other elements to form compounds.
• Compounds are different from pure carbon.
• A carbon atom combines with two oxygen atoms to form carbon dioxide (CO2).
• Carbon dioxide is a gas and is invisible, and is essential for life.

Carbon Cycle

• Plants absorb carbon dioxide, retain the carbon, and release oxygen.
• Animals breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide.
• Plants and animals rely on each other in this cycle.

Formation of Fossil Fuels

• Over millions of years, dead plants and animals are buried and subjected to pressure and heat.
• This process transforms the organic matter into fossil fuels: oil, coal, and natural gas.
• Fossil fuels are burned for energy in various applications like cars, power plants, and heaters.

Carbon Release Through Burning

• Burning fossil fuels produces heat, water, and carbon dioxide.
• Soot and grease can also result as solid forms of carbon.
• Carbon stored over millions of years is rapidly released back into the atmosphere.
• Burning 6.3 pounds of gasoline yields 20 pounds of carbon dioxide.

Carbon Dioxide as a Greenhouse Gas

• Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, trapping heat within Earth's atmosphere.
• This greenhouse effect helps Earth retain solar energy, preventing oceans from freezing.
• Without greenhouse gases, Earth would not be habitable.

Impact of Increased Carbon Dioxide

• Excessive carbon dioxide can lead to global warming, even with small increases in its concentration.
• Throughout history, increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide have correlated with rising global temperatures, further increasing carbon dioxide levels.