Cycles of Matter

Cycles of Matter

1. Carbon Cycle

   • Plants take in carbon dioxide and use carbon to make sugar molecules.
     • Oxygen Cycle
       • Plants produce oxygen, which is then taken by animals
         • Animals and plants break down sugars and release carbon dioxide
           • When organisms die, decomposers return carbon compounds to the soil and release carbon dioxide to the air.
             • Carbon compouds are taken by plants.
               • Some human activities release carbon compounds into the air

2. Nitrogen Cycle

   • Bacteria in root nodules fix free nitrogen into simple compounds
     • Plants use simple nitrogen compounds to make proteins and other complex compounds
       • Consumers eat nitrogen compounds in plants
         • Then, consumers die and decomposers return simple nitrogen compounds to the soil.
           • Soil bacteria release some free nitrogen into the air