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There has been a rapid increase in the percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since 1960 - AQA - GCSE Biology Combined Science - Question 2 - 2019 - Paper 2
Question 2
There has been a rapid increase in the percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since 1960. 1. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global w... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:There has been a rapid increase in the percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since 1960 - AQA - GCSE Biology Combined Science - Question 2 - 2019 - Paper 2
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Step 3
Describe how carbon from the atmosphere is cycled through living organisms.
Answer
Carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is taken in by green plants during photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis
Plants absorb carbon dioxide through their stomata and convert it into glucose, which serves as a source of energy and a building block for various compounds. The chemical equation for photosynthesis can be represented as:
ightarrow ext{C}_6 ext{H}_{12} ext{O}_6 + ext{6 O}_2$$ ### Feeding Animals eat plants and obtain the carbon compounds contained within them. These compounds are used for energy and to build their own biological structures. ### Decay When plants and animals die, microorganisms decompose their bodies, releasing carbon back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide through respiration. ### Respiration Both animals and microorganisms undergo respiration, returning carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, thus completing the carbon cycle.