Majority of the carbon on the Earth is

Options

A. present in plants on lands
B. dissolved in oceans
C. present in air as carbon dioxide
D. present in animals as organic matter

Answer

To answer the question "Majority of the carbon on the Earth is," we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Carbon Cycle
The carbon cycle is a natural process that involves the movement of carbon among the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms. It is essential to recognize where carbon is predominantly found.

**Hint:** Review the components of the carbon cycle to understand how carbon is distributed in different reservoirs.

### Step 2: Identify Major Carbon Reservoirs
Carbon exists in various forms and locations on Earth, including:
- The atmosphere (as carbon dioxide)
- Living organisms (plants and animals)
- Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)
- Oceans (dissolved carbon)

**Hint:** List the different reservoirs of carbon and their approximate percentages to compare their significance.

### Step 3: Analyze Carbon Distribution
Research indicates that:
- Approximately 71% of the Earth's carbon is found dissolved in the oceans.
- About 48% of the dry weight of living organisms is carbon.
- The atmosphere contains only about 0.03% carbon dioxide.

**Hint:** Focus on the percentages to determine which reservoir holds the majority of carbon.

### Step 4: Conclusion
Based on the analysis, it is clear that the majority of carbon on Earth is found in the oceans, making it the largest carbon reservoir.

**Hint:** Remember that while other sources like fossil fuels and living organisms contain carbon, the oceans hold the largest proportion.

### Final Answer
The majority of the carbon on Earth is found dissolved in the oceans.