This is Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen.

During photosynthesis, plants use carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and light energy to make glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2). Carbon and Hydrogen become part of the glucose molecule, while some Oxygen is released into the air as a byproduct.

This is Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen.

In cellular respiration, organisms use glucose and oxygen to produce energy (ATP), releasing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts. This returns Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen to the environment, continuing the cycle.

When the carbon cycle becomes unbalanced, too much carbon dioxide (CO2) builds up in the atmosphere. Normally, plants absorb CO2 during photosynthesis, but human influence releases too much CO2 for plants and other natural carbon sinks to handle. This heats up the planet, since CO2 acts as a blanket for the earth, trapping heat in and affecting climate change.

Cars, factories, & etc. contribute to more CO2, which plants can't keep up with. 

Living things return carbon to the atmosphere through respiration, which happens in two main ways: aerobic and anaerobic. Aerobic respiration uses oxygen to break down glucose into carbon dioxide, water, and energy. This happens in most plants, animals, and soil organisms. It’s common in well aerated environments like forests, grasslands, and oceans, where oxygen is plentiful.

Oxygen      Carbon

Anaerobic respiration, on the other hand, occurs when oxygen is limited, such as in yeast, muscle cells, or dead zones. It uses glucose to release energy, albeit less efficiently, and produces lactic acid & methane as a byproduct. Both processes are needed to recycle carbon, but an imbalance can worsen greenhouse gas buildup in Earth’s atmosphere.

Lactic Acid   Methane

Only uses glucose to produce ATP

There are the four "spheres" of Earth, and carbon moves through all of them as part of the carbon cycle. These spheres include:

- Biosphere

- Geosphere

- Atmosphere

- Hydrosphere

I will show and explain how carbon moves through these spheres.

Tree absorbs carbon & hydrogen

Tree produces oxygen

Animals exhale carbon

Biosphere

Dead plant matter turns into coal

Humans burn the coal

Combustion releases carbon

Geosphere