Question

Using photosynthesis and cellular respiration, how does carbon get cycled through an ecosystem, and why is it that burning fossil fuels upsets this balance?

Answer 1

Can't write it in one sentence. Sorry. :/

Explanation:

The photosynthesis takes carbon dioxide(`CO_2`) and reacts with water(`H_2O`) in presence of light, creating glucoses and oxygen. This reaction follows this equation:
`6CO_2 + 6H_2O to C_6H_12O_6 +6O_2`

The burning of fossil fuels upsets the balance because the atmosphere becomes full of `CO_2`. Using gasoline as example, the substance most found is octane(`C_8H_18`). When 1 mole of octane is burned, it takes a lot of oxygen with it, and releases a 8 carbon dioxides per mole of octane. This is the reaction:
`C_8H_18 + O_2 to CO_2 + H_2O`.
When the equation is balanced, becomes:
`C_8H_18 + 17O_2 to 8CO_2 + 9H_2O`

The lost of oxygen, the acidic soil and the blockage of incoming light by the amount of `CO_2` makes it hard to have all necessary conditions to have a photosynthesis and can even result in the death of the plant.