ELi5: how does carbon capture work?

Question

I get that we would trap carbon but could it fail and potentially cause a mass release?

In: Earth Science

Answer 1

[Photosynthesis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photosynthesis). 6 carbons (carbon dioxide) + 6 water -> 1 sugar + 6 oxygen. The plant then chains the sugars together into [cellulose](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose), which forms the body of the plant.

The carbon is thus trapped in plants (trees and such). It generally doesn’t get released until said plant is burned, or eaten. Animals generally use the reverse process: cellulose -> sugar, and sugar + oxygen (breathed in) -> water + carbon dioxide (breathed out), releasing the carbon.