In the context of the carbon long-term cycle, what can carbon compounds become after the death of organisms?

After the death of organisms, carbon compounds can undergo processes that eventually lead to the formation of fossil fuels. When plants and animals die, their organic matter can be buried under layers of sediment. Over millions of years, the heat and pressure from the Earth's crust transform this organic material into hydrocarbons, which are the primary components of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas.

This transformation is a critical component of the long-term carbon cycle, as it effectively sequesters carbon for millions of years, removing it from the atmosphere and biosphere. Fossil fuels are, therefore, a significant reservoir of carbon that originated from ancient biological materials. Understanding this process highlights the intricate connections between living organisms, carbon storage, and long-term geological processes.