Watch “The Carbon Cycle, based on NPR’s series “Climate Connections”: Carbon is the basic building block of all life and carbon is the essential fuel for human society. This assignment reviews some of the basics of why carbon plays such an essential role and why use of carbon for energy generation changes the global climate system and even the living conditions for corals in the ocean.

Instructions:

Robert Krulwich's Global Warming: It’s All About Carbon: Watch all five parts then answering the following questions according to the episodes:

1-Episode 1

The video calls carbon “The duct tape of life” Explain in 2-3 sentences why this is fitting.

2-Episode 1

Name the three 3--dimensional structures shown in Episode 1 that carbon can assume.

3-Episode 2

Name the three organic carbon compounds shown and their molecular formulas (as in this example: water: H2O)

(Use subscript correctly!. Don't write H2O as “H2O” )

4-Episode 3

In 2-3 sentences explain how ignition changes the linkage between carbon atoms and what the resulting products are.

5-Episode 3

A) What are the two non-carbon based sources of commercial energy shown in the video?

B) What are their drawbacks? (1-2 sentences ea.)

C) Explain why one of them makes people nervous – it is not simply that the stuff will easily explode- do a background search.

6-Episode 4

The episode shows CO2 dissolving in the oceans and refers to a ‘carbonated beverage’.

Research the terms “carbonation” and/or “carbonic acid”. -Do not research/write about the carbonation that makes fizzy drinks!

A) Describe in 2-3 sentences the chemical reaction of CO2 with water and why this leads to acidification.

B) Complete the formula H20 + CO2 »

-Write down and report your online source in enough detail that we can easily find it.

7-Episode 5

The video mentions “carbon sequestration” as one way to reduce global warming. Research the term at another web site and answer the following:

A) Name and briefly explain one biological process leading to CO2 sequestration (2 -3 sentences)

B) Name and briefly explain one method of engineered carbon capture & sequestration different from the one shown in the video (2 -3 sentences).

(No direct copying from the source- that’s plagiarizing and we can spot it from miles away– use your own words!)