Cycling of matter

5. – Organisms like fungi and bacteria that break down dead matter and return nutrients to the environment
6. – Two or more atoms joined together; molecules like water (H₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) are important in ecosystems
10. – An organism that eats other organisms to get energy (e.g., animals, humans).
13. (Cellular respiration) – The process cells use to break down food (glucose) to release energy
15. dioxide – A gas made of carbon and oxygen; it is used by plants to make food during photosynthesis.

1. – An organism, like a plant, that makes its own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide
2. – The process plants use to turn sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen
3. web – A diagram that shows how energy and matter move through different organisms in an ecosystem
4. – A molecule made of hydrogen and oxygen; it is necessary for life and is used in photosynthesis.
7. – A gas that organisms need for respiration; it is also produced by plants during photosynthesis.
8. – Substances that organisms need to live and grow, like sugars, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
9. – The process of breaking down dead organisms into simpler substances.
10. – A chemical element found in all living things; it moves through the environment in the carbon cycle.
11. – Anything that has mass and takes up space; all living and nonliving things are made of matter
12. – A type of sugar made by plants during photosynthesis; it stores energy that organisms use
14. – The tiny building blocks that make up all matter, including elements like carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen.