Carbon Cycle Story Name Assignment: Write a short story as a comic strip or slide show that depicts a single carbon atom in the carbon cycle. You can make it purely factual or have fun and turn it into a story. The science part needs to be factual, but you can make your atom "alive" by giving it a personality or mission. This can be completed in Microsoft Word or PowerPoint. Requirements: There will be a minimum of one frame showing the following. Frame 1 : Nitrogen 14 transforming to Carbon 14 in the atmosphere. Frame 2 : Frame 3 : Frame 4 : Frame 5 : Carbon forms a compound with Oxygen making CO2. (Carbon Dioxide) CO2 is taken in by a plant during photosynthesis. C 6H 12O 6 is formed. Plant is eaten by an animal which gets energy by breaking apart C 6H 12O 6. CO 2 is released. CO2 is taken in by another plant during photosynthesis. C 6H 12O 6 is formed. Frame 6 : Plant is either burned (combustion) with CO2 released. OR Plant decomposes and is buried under layers of earth for millions of years. They decompose into the organic materials that form fossil fuels. Frame 7 : The * C-14 atom undergoes beta decay to become N-14 *Remember, most carbon is C-12. Only the radioactive carbon isotope C-14 goes through this step. Frame 8: This frame can have anything you want! At least one slide /frame will have the equation for photosynthesis At least one slide /frame will have the equation for cellular respiration Photosynthesis Cellular Respiration Reactants CO2 & H2O C6H12O6 & O2 Products C6H12O6 & O2 CO2 & H2O Equation 6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 & 6O2 C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 & 6H2O
Graphic by Nasa.gov http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/ Integrated Science - 2017
Carbon Comics Cosmic rays collide with N 14 in atmosphere and convert it to C-14. A proton is ejected during the process. 1 n + 14 N 14 C + 1 p CO2 Atmosphere & Water Taken in by plants during photosynthesis 6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 & 6O2 C6H12O6 consumed by heterotroph during cellular respiration. C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 burned (combustion) C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O
Notes: C atom is in (organism, atmosphere, fuel ) C atom is in (Chemical form CO2, C6H12O6, C-14, CH4) Examples: Plant takes in CO2 from the atmosphere CO2 Grass eaten by mouse C6H12O6 (Product of photosynthesis.) Gas exhaled from mouse lungs CO2 (Product of cellular respiration.) Tree that is burned in a wildfire CO2 (Product of combustion.) C-14 atom in a bone C-14 N-14 (Beta decay)
Integrated Science - 2017
Biological Processes Photosynthesis Plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates like glucose that is used by all other living organisms as the source of food. 6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 & 6O2 Respiration Living organisms use oxygen to convert carbohydrates into energy, releasing carbon dioxide and water into the atmosphere. C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 & 6H2O Decomposition Bacteria and fungi break down organic matter (leaves, wood, dead animals etc) into carbon dioxide and water during respiration. C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 & 6H2O Chemical Processes Fossil Fuel formation Oil, coal and gas are formed after millions of years under extreme pressure and high temperatures, from once living organisms such as trees and microscopic algae. Carbon can be stored for millions of years in these forms. This is called a carbon sink. Combustion In the presence of oxygen gas, wood, gas, oil, coal and other carbon-containing compounds can be burned to produce carbon dioxide. C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 & 6H2O Nuclear Processes Beta Decay of Carbon-14 Carbon- 14 has a half-life of 5,730 years. The nucleus is unstable with 8 neutrons, so it undergoes radioactive decay (beta decay). As the beta particle is emitted, a neutron in the Carbon atom becomes a proton turning it into the element Nitrogen. Nitrogen to Carbon Cosmic rays from the sun hit atoms in the atmosphere causing them to eject a neutron. These neutrons collide with nitrogen atoms in the atmosphere. A proton (Hydrogen) is ejected turning N 14 to C -14. 1 n + 14 N 14 C + 1 p