Carbon Cycle Lesson - PDF

L3: Carbon Cycle 15/02/2025 Learning Objectives: Explain the relative stability in the concentration of Key Words: carbon dioxide in the Respiration, combustion, photosynthesis, atmosphere over part of...

L3: Carbon Cycle 15/02/2025 Learning Objectives: Explain the relative stability in the concentration of Key Words: carbon dioxide in the Respiration, combustion, photosynthesis, atmosphere over part of the Earth’s history dissolving, carbon cycle, carbon store Describe the processes by which carbon atoms move from one store to another Reactivate Your Knowledge Q1: What is the atmosphere? Q2: What percentage of the atmosphere is carbon dioxide? Q3: Give an example of a composite? Q4: What is combustion? Reactivate Q1: What is the atmosphere? A mixture of gases/a layer of gases that surround the earth Q2: What percentage of the atmosphere is carbon dioxide? 0.04% Q3: Give an example of a composite? Carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and reinforced concrete Q4: What is combustion? Fuel + oxygen  carbon dioxide + water What do all of these have in common? The carbon cycle and climate Where is carbon found? Locked up Dissolved Organic molecules in Gases in the carbon, e.g., carbon in the plants, animals, atmosphere fossil fuels and ocean including and other rock ions organisms The carbon cycle and climate Carbon in the atmosphere Carbon can be found as gases in the atmosphere including: Carbon dioxide Methane The carbon cycle and climate Locked up carbon Locked up carbon includes fossil fuels such as: Coal Methane Petrol (from oil) As well as rocks and minerals: Chalk Graphite In the soil The carbon cycle and climate In the ocean Carbon can be found in the ocean, as: Dissolved carbon dioxide Sedimentary rocks, like calcium carbonate The carbon cycle and climate In organic molecules/living things Carbon forms a variety of organic molecules found in plants, animals, and other organisms: Glucose DNA Cells Coral structures The carbon cycle and climate Explain the relative stability in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over part of the Earth’s history Carbon dioxide in our atmosphere 1 in 2500 particles in the air is carbon dioxide. This molecule is important for life on earth. Why is CO2 important for life on earth? CO2 keeps the Earth Plants need CO2 for warm as a photosynthesis to make food. greenhouse gas. Explain the relative stability in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over part of the Earth’s history Removing CO2 from the atmosphere Carbon dioxide + water  Glucose + oxygen Plants take in CO2 from the atmosphere and use this to make food (glucose). Explain the relative stability in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over part of the Earth’s history Adding CO2 to the atmosphere Glucose + oxygen  carbon dioxide + water That glucose stored in plants can be transferred to other organisms as food up food chains. We use this food for respiration. Explain the relative stability in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over part of the Earth’s history This chart shows concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over the past 800,000 years. The shaded band shows how carbon dioxide concentrations remained in the range of 175 to 300 parts per million until 1914. Describe the trend in CO2 levels after 1914 and suggest a reason for the change. The carbon cycle and Slide | climate 16 Explain the relative stability in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over part of the Earth’s history The combustion of fossil fuels and other human activities have meant that levels of carbon dioxide now stand at 417 ppm, a 50% increase since the Industrial Revolution. The carbon cycle and Slide | climate 17 Explain the relative stability in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over part of the Earth’s history What type of reactions happen in coal- powered machines? This has driven a rise in global average temperatures to 0.8°C above the 1961-1990 average. The carbon cycle and Slide | climate 18 The carbon cycle, sources, and stores Carbon stores are the locations where carbon is stored away from the atmosphere. Carbon sources release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, e.g., burning fossil fuels. The carbon cycle describes the movement of carbon between the earth, ecosystem and the Image linked to interactive diagram atmosphere. The carbon cycle and climate Describe the processes by which carbon atoms move from one store to another.  Describe the processes by which carbon atoms move from one store to another. The Carbon Cycle The constant recycling of carbon between the earth, ecosystem and the atmosphere is called the carbon cycle. Discuss how human activities may have altered parts of the carbon cycle. A carbon store is... A place where A place where A place where carbon is carbon is stored carbon dioxide is released into the away from the found atmosphere atmosphere An example of a carbon store is… Calcium Carbon Photosynthesis carbonate dioxide Carbon can be added to the atmosphere By respiration By By combustion and combustion photosynthesis reactions and reactions and combustion carbon reactions dissolving in the oceans Why were carbon levels stable in the atmosphere for a long time? Because carbon Because carbon Because carbon dioxide was dioxide was dioxide was being emitted being emitted being emitted and absorbed combustion and absorbed from the reactions, and from the atmosphere at less atmosphere at different rates photosynthesis the same rates was happening Complete Activities: Pages 16- 18 Challenge: Q5: Describe a route that a carbon atom might take around the carbon cycle. Include four carbon stores that the atom passes through and give the names of the processes involved (7 marks). Answers Process Adds CO2 to the Removes CO2 from the atmosphere atmosphere Respiration Combustion Photosynthesis CO2 dissolving in ocean Answers Q2: Write word equations for the following reactions: Respiration Glucose + oxygen  carbon dioxide + water ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Photosynthesis Carbon dioxide + water  glucose + oxygen ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Combustion of methane Methane + oxygen  carbon dioxide + water ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Q3: Explain why levels of carbon dioxide stayed relatively in the atmosphere before the industrial revolution.Because carbon dioxide was being emitted to the atmosphere and absorbed from the atmosphere at ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. the same rates or because reactions that take carbon dioxide away from the atmosphere like photosynthesis was happening at the same rate as ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. reactions that add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere like respiration. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Answers Q1: 1. Name a compound of carbon found in the atmosphere. Methane / carbon dioxide ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Q2: Describe what a carbon store is. Something/a material that stores carbon dioxide away from the ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. atmosphere Q3: Which of the following are examples of carbon stores? Tick those that apply. The atmosphere The ocean Animals Plants Limestone Fossil fuels Soil Answers Answers Q5: Describe a route that a carbon atom might take around the carbon cycle. Include four carbon stores that the atom passes through and give the names of the processes involved (7 marks). For example, from a fossil fuel (store) to the atmosphere by combustion [process]. Then from the atmosphere to the ocean (store) by dissolving (process). Then from the ocean to sedimentary rock [store] by deposition [process]. CO2 in the oceans can be taken in by plants that photosynthesise. Fish/aquatic organisms eat the plants and use the food for respiration, which returns the CO2 back to the atmosphere. [7 marks] Reflective learners    1. Tick how you felt you did today 2. Write down 3 things you learned today 3. Write down 2 question you still have 4. Write down 1 target for your revision