Question

the earths carbon cycle consists of the flow, cycling, and recycling of all the carbon on earth. every living organisms chemical makeup includes the element carbon. how does carbon become a part of living organisms?
a producers take in oxygen directly from the soil through their roots and consumers eat the producers.
b consumers take in carbon dioxide from the air and producers eat the consumers.
c producers take in carbon dioxide from the air to be used for photosynthesis and consumers eat the producers.
d carbon is part of sunlight and enters through the skin of all organisms.

Explanation:

• Option A: Producers (plants) take in carbon dioxide (\(CO_2\)) not oxygen (\(O_2\)) for photosynthesis. So this option is incorrect.
• Option B: Producers take in \(CO_2\) and consumers eat producers, not the other way around. So this option is incorrect.
• Option C: Producers (like plants) use \(CO_2\) from the air in photosynthesis (\(6CO_2 + 6H_2O

ightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6+6O_2\)) to make organic compounds (which contain carbon). Consumers then eat the producers, incorporating carbon into their bodies. This option is correct.

• Option D: Carbon is not part of sunlight. Sunlight provides energy for photosynthesis, but carbon comes from \(CO_2\). So this option is incorrect.

Answer:

C. Producers take in carbon dioxide from the air to be used for photosynthesis and consumers eat the producers.