The Voyage ofCarl Carbon

…a bacterium…

500

MILLIONyears ago…

…EXHALES…

“Carl”(as part of a CO2 molecule)

Hey…EVERY thing “exhales”It’s part of “cellular respiration”!

(burn that glucose…release that carbon dioxide)

CO2

Hello. I’m Carl.

How is that possible!?

That Carl went froma bacteria’s breath

500 MY agoto

your bicep today

Today, Carl is part of…

…your BICEP muscle.

What “forms” does Carl takealong the way?

ONE of MANY possible paths

of

Carl Carbon

CO2

(Carl…as) carbon dioxide dissolves into

the ocean (H2O)

forming carbonic acid(H2CO3)

Carl is used by a clam to build a

new ring of shell

GIMMEE, GIMME, GIMME

Where Carl is incorporated into

a calcium carbonate molecule(CaCO3)

Eventually, the clam diesand sinks to the bottom of the sea

with all the other dead clams

Forming a layer of rock called…

LIMESTONE!

A few MILLION yrs go by

And INDIA crashes into Asia

Shoving the limestone

up…up..UP…UP…UP

Into the HIMALAYAN Mountains

(Mt. Everest)!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Woohoo!!!

A few years ago, rainwater exposes the

limestone containing Carl(Station 3!!!)

CaCO3 + H2O H2CO3

Where Carl is eventually washed

into the Ganges River as carbonic

acid

And Carl floats to the sea…

Carl travels the world’s

oceans, remaining near the surface…

Now, HOW does he get into your bicep???

CO2(aq) + H2O H2CO3

Some hungry plankton EAT Carl!!!! (it’s called photosynthesis!)

CO2 C6H12O6 (glucose!!)(plus water) (plus oxygen)

Here’s ONE way…

sweeeeeeeeeeet

…and the plankton are eaten by…

…SHRIMP!RE-E-E-ED ROBIN!!

YUM!!and the shrimp end up…

HERE!

YUMMM!!!!

OR…

The CO2 molecule moves from (aq) to (g)

where it enters the atmosphere (warmer ocean waters?...less soluble?…)

Where it flows with the wind…

Until it reaches the Skagit Valley where Carl enters…

…a lettuce leaf…

Love me some BLT!

as a GAS!!!!

That whole PHOTSYNTHESIS thing again… “glucose here I come!”

Or better yet…

The CO2 enters a chemical reaction (reversible Station 4) where it becomes part of

a sodium bicarbonate molecule

akaExtracted, boxed, and sold you use it to make

!

Tired of eating Carl?...how about this?

As part of a CO2 molecule I’m free to

float through the sky…

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!

Until Carl is “captured” by a…

…factory…

…that makes compressed gas

ow

and Carl is forced into a can with water (& syrup)forming…

carbonic acid

Locate CARBONated

beverages here

OK…I get it…but once Mr. Muscles ingests me, where exactly do I go??

C’mon…follow me!

Protein: ACTINCarl…& Friends

Watch me! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3SZKJVKRxQ&feature=related

SOUND REQUIRED ON ALL OF THESE

Or better yet!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrIr3xDhQ0E&feature=related

Feeling particularly nerdy? Check out the Harry Potter version…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShP5SUuTtJ0&feature=related