Autotrophs are organisms that produce their own organic compounds using carbon dioxide from the air or water they live in. It plays an important role in the structure, biochemistry, and nutrition of all living cells. Carbon in the BiosphereĬarbon is an essential part of life on Earth. These minerals dissolve after the death of the organism, but some of the material settles to the sea floor where it can be buried and stored in the form of limestone. Marine organisms build their skeletons and shells out of the minerals calcite and aragonite (CaCO 3) through the incorporation of bicarbonate ions. Carbonic acid dissociates to form bicarbonate ions (HCO 3 -), the form in which most of the carbon in the oceans exists lesser amounts of carbon exist as carbonic acid (H 2CO 3 or dissolved CO 2), and carbonate ions (CO 3 2-) paired with calcium and magnesium and other cations. When carbon (CO 2) enters the ocean, carbonic acid is formed by the reaction: CO 2 + H 2O = H 2CO 3. Carbon is released to the atmosphere at oceanic upwelling sites, whereas regions of downwelling transfer carbon from the atmosphere to the ocean. Inorganic carbon is readily exchanged between the atmosphere and ocean, exerting an important control on the pH of ocean water.
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