The

Oxygen
Cycle
Facts about Oxygen

-is an important element to life on Earth.

-It is the most common element of the human
body. It makes up about 65% of the mass of the
human body.
-also makes up about 30% of the Earth and 20%
of the atmosphere.
Oxygen Cycle
What is Oxygen Cycle?
• In the simple example of the oxygen cycle shown,
you can see how oxygen is used and cycled by
plants and animals. Plants are the main creators
of oxygen in the atmosphere through the process
of photosynthesis. Here the tree uses sunlight
and carbon dioxide to produce energy and
releases oxygen. The giraffe breathes in the
oxygen and then breathes out carbon dioxide.
The plant can then use this carbon dioxide and
the cycle is complete.
Processes that USE Oxygen

-Breathing The scientific name for breathing is respiration.

All animals and plants use up oxygen when they
breathe. They breathe in oxygen and breathe
out carbon dioxide.

-Decomposing When plants and animals die, they decompose.

This process uses up oxygen and releases carbon
dioxide.
-Rusting This is also called oxidation. When
things rust they use up oxygen.

-Combustion There are three things needed for fire: oxygen,

fuel, and heat. Without oxygen you can't have a
fire. When things burn, they use up oxygen and
replace it with carbon dioxide.
What produces Oxygen?
Plants Plants create the majority of the oxygen we breathe
through a process called photosynthesis. In this
process plants use carbon dioxide, sunlight, and
water to create energy. In the process they also
create oxygen which they release into the air.

Sunlight Some oxygen is produced when sunlight reacts with

water vapor in the atmosphere.
Fun Facts!
• Even though fish breathe under water they
still breathe oxygen. Their gills extract the
oxygen from the water.
• There is a lot of oxygen stored up in the oxide
minerals of the Earth's crust. However, this
oxygen isn't available for us to breathe.
 The
CARBON
Cycle
What is Carbon Cycle?
• Carbon Cycle (ecology), in ecology, the cycle of carbon usage
by which energy flows through Earth’s ecosystem.
• The basic cycle begins when photosynthesizing plants use
carbon dioxide (CO2) found in the atmosphere or dissolved in
water. Some of this carbon is incorporated in plant tissue as
carbohydrates, fats, and protein; the rest is returned to the
atmosphere or water primarily by aerobic respiration.

• Carbon is thus passed on to herbivores that eat the plants

Carbon Cycle