Question

Read the following statements:
i. 51% of carbon is found dissolved in oceans.
ii. The oceanic reservoir regulates the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
iii. Some amount of the fixed carbon is lost to sediments and removed from circulation.
iv. Carbon constitutes 49% of the dry weight of an organism and it is next only to water.

• A. i and ii are true but iii and iv are false
• B. i and iii are true but ii and iv are false
• C. ii ,iii and iv are true but i is false
• D. i and iv are correct but ii and iii are false

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

The carbon cycle is a type of nutrient cycle where the carbon travels from the atmosphere to organism and Earth and back to the atmosphere in various forms like carbon dioxide. From the total carbon content in the biosphere, 71% of it is found dissolved in oceans as oceans absorb a lot of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis by phytoplankton. The oceanic reservoir regulates the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere via absorption and utilization. From the total carbon available to the organisms, some amount of the fixed carbon gets lost as sediments forming rocks and removed from circulation. Decomposers contribute carbon substantially by their activity of processing waste and dead organic matter.
It is found that carbon constitutes nearly 49% of the dry weight of an organism which is next to water which is approximately 70%.