Question

what happens to carbon when animals die? it turns into oxygen. it returns to the soil through decomposition. it turns into water.

Explanation:

• Carbon cannot turn into oxygen (different elements, oxygen is O, carbon is C) or water (water is H₂O, no carbon conversion to water in this context).
• When animals die, decomposers break down organic matter, and carbon in their bodies returns to the soil (or other parts of the carbon cycle) through decomposition.

Answer:

It returns to the soil through decomposition.