The carbon atoms in the cellulose of a wood log originally came from absorbed by the plant.

Carbon dioxide

Explanation:

During photosynthesis, plants incorporate their only source of carbon through carbon dioxide (CO2) and together with water (H2O) and sunlight they synthesize glucose and oxygen.

6 CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2

Cellulose is a structural polymer formed by β-glucose (C6H10O5)n monomers arranged in an unbranched manner. This is synthesized in plants by the cellulose synthase complex (CSC). To do this the plant uses the glucose that was synthesized during photosynthesis.

So the source of the carbon atoms in cellulose came from the CO2.

hammurabi rulers

good lesson

label a cell membrane

label b cytoplasm

label c ribosomes

label d dna

the membrane forms the outside of the cell

cytoplasm is the liquid within

ribosomes are the components within that distribute rna

the dna is the genetic make-up