Question

4d) carbon ion cycles within and between the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere in different ways.
4e) the steps in the table outline one possible pathway of an individual carbon atom in a forest through the carbon cycle. match each statement to the step it describes.
carbon moves from the atmosphere to the hydrosphere via gas exchange.
carbon moves from the hydrosphere to the biosphere, and then it moves to the geosphere via limestone formation.
carbon moves from the biosphere to the geosphere via fossil fuel formation.
carbon moves from the geosphere to the atmosphere via fossil fuel combustion.
carbon moves from the atmosphere to the biosphere via photosynthesis.
step 1: a fern absorbs carbon dioxide from the air through its leaves. it uses the carbon dioxide to produce carbohydrates.
step 2: the fern dies and gets buried under layers of mud and sediment. over millions of years, heat and pressure transform the fern’s remains into coal.
step 3: humans dig up the coal and burn it at an electricity-generating power plant, releasing carbon dioxide gas into the air.
step 4: carbon dioxide gas in the air dissolves into ocean water and forms carbonic acid, which breaks down into simple ions.
step 5: marine organisms use carbon-containing ions in ocean water to build shells, which sink to the ocean floor after the organisms die. over time, these

Explanation:

To solve this, we match each step of the carbon cycle with the corresponding description:

• Step 1: A fern absorbs CO₂ from air (atmosphere) to make carbs (biosphere via photosynthesis) → "Carbon moves from the atmosphere to the biosphere via photosynthesis."
• Step 2: Fern dies, buried, becomes coal (biosphere to geosphere via fossil fuel formation) → "Carbon moves from the biosphere to the geosphere via fossil fuel formation."
• Step 3: Coal burned, CO₂ to air (geosphere to atmosphere via fossil fuel combustion) → "Carbon moves from the geosphere to the atmosphere via fossil fuel combustion."
• Step 4: CO₂ from air dissolves in ocean (atmosphere to hydrosphere via gas exchange) → "Carbon moves from the atmosphere to the hydrosphere via gas exchange."
• Step 5: Marine organisms use ions to build shells (hydrosphere to biosphere, then to geosphere via limestone formation) → "Carbon moves from the hydrosphere to the biosphere, and then it moves to the geosphere via limestone formation."

For example, if we take Step 1: The action of the fern (a biosphere component) taking in atmospheric CO₂ through photosynthesis directly corresponds to the description "Carbon moves from the atmosphere to the biosphere via photosynthesis."

Answer:

Step 1: Carbon moves from the atmosphere to the biosphere via photosynthesis.
Step 2: Carbon moves from the biosphere to the geosphere via fossil fuel formation.
Step 3: Carbon moves from the geosphere to the atmosphere via fossil fuel combustion.
Step 4: Carbon moves from the atmosphere to the hydrosphere via gas exchange.
Step 5: Carbon moves from the hydrosphere to the biosphere, and then it moves to the geosphere via limestone formation.