1. The life of carbon in photosynthesis Carbon

2. What happens to carbon during photosynthesis? First, let’s start off with what photosynthesis is. Photosynthesis is the process that plants and bacteria go through to create organic molecules out of water, carbon dioxide, and light. There are 2 sets of reactions that form from photosynthesis, one of which depends on light, while the other set doesn’t. The set that does (light dependent reactions) turn energy from light into chemical energy, which is necessary for the light independent reactions, which turn carbon dioxide into organic molecules.

3. The transition between photosynthesis and respiration Respiration and photosynthesis undo each other. Photosynthesis turns water, carbon dioxide and light into glucose and oxygen, while respiration turns glucose and oxygen into water, and carbon dioxide.

4. Cellular Respiration (or fermentation. Either one.) and you (the carbon atom) During respiration, pyruvate goes through the Krebs Cycle if oxygen is present, and if not, it will go through fermentation. During the Krebs cycle, pyruvate catalyzes the release of carbon dioxide from Acetyl CoA, which attaches to oxaloacetate, which catalyzes the release of CO2. In fermentation, pyruvate is converted into lactate or ethanol.

5. Sources http://www.slideboom.com/presentations/43 8727/2.06/ http://www.slideboom.com/presentations/43 8727/2.06/ http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm ons/thumb/d/db/Photosynthesis.gif/220px- Photosynthesis.gif http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm ons/thumb/d/db/Photosynthesis.gif/220px- Photosynthesis.gif http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm ons/thumb/7/74/CellRespiration.svg/300px- CellRespiration.svg.png http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm ons/thumb/7/74/CellRespiration.svg/300px- CellRespiration.svg.png