What is the difference between carbon and carbon dioxide?
Carbon (C) is an element, which by itself does not contribute to global climate change. When a carbon atom combines with two oxygen atomssuch as during respiration and combustion carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas, is formed. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; they fix, or sequester, the carbon, while releasing the oxygen back into the atmosphere. When a tree dies, burns, or decomposes, it releases the stored carbon, which recombines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide. One unit of carbon, when released, forms 3.67 units of carbon dioxide.
