Chapter 10 - Q&A

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1. The amount of carbon and oxygen (as O2 and CO2) in the Earth's atmosphere is closely linked to the number of living plants and animals. Photosynthesis and plant growth extract CO2 from and release O2 into the atmosphere. In contrast, animal respiration extracts O2 from and releases CO2 into the atmosphere. If for some reason the number of plants on Earth were to increase, predict the impact on O2 and CO2 composition of the atmosphere.

A. The atmospheric composition of O2 and CO2 would probably remain unchanged.

B. The atmospheric composition of O2 would increase and CO2 would decrease.

C. The atmospheric composition of O2 would decrease and CO2 would increase.

D. The atmospheric composition of O2 and CO2 would decrease.