Carbon Cycle Considered: Normal to Non-Normal

Carbon is a chemical element. It sits at number six at the Periodic Table, and its chemistry is found in organic, inorganic, and biochemical reactions.

When many people think of carbon, they may envision pencil lead or charcoal. Yes, that is carbon, but carbon is a lot more than just the obvious items we can see around us.

Because it is at the center of so many chemical reactions, from carbon dioxide to limestone—we may even take carbon for granted.

Carbon, however, is at the center of a reaction scheme called the Carbon Cycle.

Without the Carbon Cycle, life as we know it would be quite different.

What do you mean by a Carbon Cycle?Two Paths In Bio-Geochemistry

The carbon cycle is a chemical cycle that helps to regulate climate, geology and biology. There are two different paths: slow and fast. Both paths revolve about carbon dioxide and water.

• Slow Cycle: Over geological time periods, carbon dioxide dissolves in fresh water and falls with rain and alters the environment.
• Fast Cycle: Carbon dioxide is incorporated by plant and animals in respiration (in biochemistry).

When taken together, the role of carbon on Earth becomes multipurpose — or  sustains life.

Carbon Slow Path–Geochemistry?

When fresh water (such as rain or snow) reacts with the carbon dioxide that is already a part of the fresh water, it produces a rather weak acid known as carbonic acid. This weak acid slowly dissolves rocks or pebbles in a process known as weathering. The stones release magnesium carbonates, calcium carbonates, potassium carbonates, and sodium carbonates in the process. The dissolved elements eventually reach the ocean, where they combine with other components of the water and eventually sink to the bottom. Some of the dissolved carbonates seep through the ocean floor to eventually vent through volcanic activity. Then, the vented carbon dioxide re-joins the clouds –it falls again with the rain.

This cycle is a part of our planet, and has been for thousands of years.

Carbon Fast Path–Life?

The fast path is generally measured with biological lifespans.

Carbon is known for its ease of forming bonds (with itself). The self-bonding of carbon atoms allows functioning DNA and other biological chemistry to happen.

All living things need carbon –whether as bone (calcium carbonate), or in DNA  or other chemical components—we use carbon as a part of life.

One case, the trees and plants utilize carbon dioxide in photosynthesis to convert the carbon  from the atmosphere to plant sugar and plant components.

Once the animal life uses the plant feedstocks, it returns to once again to the Earth (soil, water and sky).

More importantly, when life ‘dies,’ we witness a release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere through decomposition. Further considerations allow us to realize: animals, insects and people need the carbon cycle – we act together (in a synergistic manner) to keep our planet in sync.

 

Non-Normal Paths in the Carbon Cycle?

We can add extra carbon to cycles with carbon dioxide and with a host of molecules. Molecules like sulfur dioxide with nitrogen oxide(s) make can make the carbon cycle function abnormally. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide(s) complicate the carbon cycle with the further dissolution of stone, rocks, and cement. These solid materials deteriorate with acid rain in a manner similar to carbonic acid.)

Adding extra carbon dioxide to the atmosphere affects the cycle – there is more carbon dioxide than normal. When we speak of non-normal, we imply that the amount of carbon has not changed, but there is an abnormal amount of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Carbon: Not Destroyed, but Transferred

You cannot destroy carbon—it is ‘transferred’ from one form to another.

Looking at the scenarios closely, we see that carbon was changed from carbon dioxide to carbonic acid and sugar then back to the eventual beginning of carbon dioxide once more.

In the best of all worlds, we would not interfere with the carbon cycle by adding extra carbon dioxide or sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, but we don’t live in that world.

Understanding the carbon cycle as an intimate part of life may eventually help our children to understand how approach the non-normal aspects of the carbon cycle.