Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
Trending News
What's the strongest sequestration of Carbon that the earth gives us?
I know the answer to this question, so the 10 points will go to the person who answers with the correct answer first.
Dana - True, but there's an item that holds onto carbon better than anything else on this planet.
Dana - Do you want a hint?
Hmmm - I'm talking about an item that holds onto Carbon and never releases it. I'm sure a Geologist would know the answer to this question.
True - It does take a while from the planet to produce this item, but we have started to create them on our own. They may not be as strong or as perfect as what the earth gives us, but they are just as lovely to look at.
Okay Benjamin - What holds onto Carbon the best, without ever releasing it again?
(And sequestration means hold onto.)
Or if you want the more technical definition:
4. ion-binding process
CHEMISTRY the chemical process of binding an ion, especially a metallic ion, in a coordination complex
Dana - I knew you'd get it if you relooked at the question. Since a diamond can cut through any substance on earth.
As for Graphite:
-Diamond is the hardest mineral known to man, Graphite is one of the softest.
-Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator, Graphite is a good conductor of electricity.
-Diamond is the ultimate abrasive, Graphite is a very good lubricant.
-Diamond is usually transparent, Graphite is opaque.
-Diamond crystallizes in the Isometric system and graphite crystallizes in the hexagonal system.
Somewhat of a surprise is that at surface temperatures and pressures, Graphite is the stable form of carbon. In fact, all diamonds at or near the surface of the Earth are currently undergoing a transformation into Graphite. This reaction, fortunately, is extremely slow.
Benjamin under the right conditions oceans also release CO2. Where a diamond never releases the CO2 and eventually change into graphite.
Evans - Do you want me to give you a thumbs down? I probably won't since it's a funny answer.
Another detail some missed about the question is that I said Carbon and not CO2. {Big Grin}
gcnp58 - Yes limestone does hold onto the Carbon, but Diamonds are used to cut it.
Pappy - Coal turns into a Diamond with the right conditions, Cobalt is good, but Diamonds can cut through it. Sand is really the best, since it is a mixture of everything (even diamonds and is used to cut Diamonds.) But sadly since I'm a women that wasn't the answer I was looking for.
Remember - "Diamonds are a girls best friend."
7 Answers
- Dana1981Lv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
The oceans are the largest carbon sinks on Earth.
Biomass (vegetation) comes second.
Each year the oceans release 88 billion tons of CO2 and absorb 90 billion tons - they are a sink for 2 billion tons of CO2.
Biomass releases 119 billion tons of CO2 each year and absorbs 120 billion tons - it's a sink for 1 billion tons of CO2.
Oh, 'strongest' not meaning largest. You're probably talking about diamonds.
Source(s): I leave geology for the geologists! - JimZLv 71 decade ago
Diamonds definitely hold it better. There are lots of diamonds in the mantle. I wouldn't mind sequestering some of that form of carbon for myself. Oops, I see that was answered. Clearly it sequesters carbon. It doesn't sequester much carbon on the surface unless it gets subducted. I believe the greatest sequestering of carbon that is relatively recent and ongoing is formation of limestones and dolomites. Interestingly, when it warms, calcite is less soluble therefore the rate should increase when it warms.
Benjamin claims it takes 50 thousand years to sequester CO2 in rocks. Say what? It happens constantly.
- RioLv 61 decade ago
I want to take a bicarbonate after all this debate.I'll take a stab and say coal...but this was a edit and I like the question more then the points.The word strong leaves me wondering,as well as the term sequestration...There are many types but I think I'm on the same page.
Another edit: how about cobalt...I'm pulling hairs now and tapping my feet....hmmm what is this substance.You are so sneaky.
Another edit:(Dirt -earth-soil basic organic matter,If burned char.) I 'm done.
- BenjaminLv 51 decade ago
--The oceans--
“The consumption of terrestrial vegetation by animals and by microbes (rotting, in other words) emits about 220 gigatonnes of CO2 every year, while respiration by vegetation emits another 220 Gt. These huge amounts are balanced by the 440 Gt of carbon absorbed from the atmosphere each year as land plants photosynthesise.
“Similarly, parts of the oceans release about 330 Gt of CO2 per year, depending on temperature and rates of photosynthesis by phytoplankton, but other parts usually soak up just as much – and are now soaking up slightly more.
“Human emissions of CO2 are now estimated to be 26.4 Gt per year, up from 23.5 Gt in the 1990s, according to an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report in February 2007. Disturbances to the land – through deforestation and agriculture, for instance – also contribute roughly 5.9 Gt per year.
“About 40% of the extra CO2 entering the atmosphere due to human activity is being absorbed by natural carbon sinks, mostly by the oceans. The rest is boosting levels of CO2 in the atmosphere.”
Additional detail:
Rocks hold the largest reservoir of CO2, but it takes 50,000+ years to sequester all of the CO2 from anthropogenic sources in the atmosphere and oceans into rocks.
You are hinting at diamonds. They may be strong rocks, but they are not the strongest "sequestration" of carbon.
Sequestration means removal or separation (non chemistry definition). The oceans remove the most CO2 from the atmosphere on a daily basis. This is more relevant to the issue of global warming than chemical bonds in diamonds and graphite. I stand behind my first answer – the oceans are the strongest sequestration of carbon dioxide.
- How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- Dr.TLv 41 decade ago
For the sake of accuracy, graphite is a more stable form of carbon than diamond. Therefore, graphite is "stronger" than diamond as a sequestratian agent.
- gcnp58Lv 71 decade ago
Limestones deposits like the white cliffs of Dover.
Dolomite mountains
etc. etc. etc.
The Earth rocks.
edit:
Mikira: if it ain't limestone/dolomite/carbonate-bearing rock, explain these numbers:
Total amount of carbon as fossil fuel: 900 petagrams
9x10^15 grams of carbon equivalent
http://bucknerweb.net/global_warming.html
Total mass of limestone/dolomite:
300 petatons
300x10^15 *tons* = 300x10^18 kg = 300x10^21 grams
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Global_material_cyc...
(the number is in the calcium cycle entry)
mass fraction of carbon in limestone (CaCO3) = 0.12 so there are 300x10^20 = 3x10^22 grams of carbon in limestone.
So there is a factor of 3 million more carbon in limestone than in carbonaceous deposits.
Anyway, it is limestone:
http://www.atmos.washington.edu/2001Q1/211/notes_f...
Limestone is about as sequestered as you can get.
