Which statement best explains how the carbon cycle supports the law of conservation of mass?

• A. The carbon cycle increases the total amount of carbon in the biosphere over time.
• B. The carbon cycle causes carbon atoms to disappear from the environment during photosynthesis.
• C. Carbon is only stored in living organisms and does not return to the atmosphere.
• D. Carbon atoms are continuously recycled between the atmosphere, organisms, and the Earth, demonstrating that matter is neither created nor destroyed.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a closed system; it can only change forms or be transferred.
2. Recognize that the carbon cycle involves the movement of carbon atoms through different reservoirs such as the atmosphere, living organisms, soil, and oceans.
3. Note that during processes like photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion, carbon atoms change forms but are not lost or gained overall.
4. Realize that the continuous recycling of carbon atoms in the carbon cycle exemplifies the conservation of mass because the total amount of carbon remains constant, just moving between different forms and locations.
5. Conclude that the statement explaining the carbon cycle as a process where carbon atoms are continuously recycled supports the law of conservation of mass by showing matter is neither created nor destroyed.