You know that carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen are important nutritive elements of food substances. Organic substances are formed by the combination of these elements in different proportions. In the cyclic movements of materials in nature, these elements which are the building units of the organic substances have an important role. Carbon is the basic element of the organic compounds. Let us notice the cyclic flow of the carbon in nature.
After observing the table given below, explain how the flow of carbon completes through the plants and animals.
| Carbon Compounds and its Decomposition Process | ||||||
| Source | Utilization | Consumer | Decomposition process | |||
| CO2 in the atmosphere | Plants – Photosynthesis | Animals | decomposition, respiration, burning fuels |
You have thus understood the role of carbon cycle in maintaining the constancy in the measure of carbon contents to an extent.