Why is carbon important to living things?

Carbon is important to all living organisms. Any particular biological process or system can usually be understood in terms of chemistry: living creatures are, to a large extent, a series of chemical reactions occurring in a particular context. read more

Carbon is a component of both living and non-living things. Living organisms consist of organic carbon, while non-living things are comprised of inorganic carbon. Plants obtain carbon from the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide, which they need for photosynthesis. read more

Carbon is a finite resource that cycles through the Earth in many forms. This makes carbon available to living organisms and remains in balance with other chemical reactions in the atmosphere and in bodies of water like ponds and oceans. read more