In the carbon cycle, carbon is found in _______. a. the atmosphere b. the soil c. living organisms d. all of the above

The element carbon is the most important chemical constituent of many organic matter, ranging from fossil fuels to complex molecules such as DNA and RNA, that control genetic reproduction in organisms.

This element is found stored in major sinks found on the earth;

as organic molecules in living and dead organisms found in the biosphere;
as the gas carbon dioxide in the atmosphere;
as organic matter in soils;
in the lithosphere as fossil fuels and sedimentary rock deposits in the oceans as dissolved atmospheric carbon dioxide and
as calcium carbonate shells in marine organisms.