What is the exact chemical breakdown of carbon dioxide?

Question

I would like to know the exact chemical breakdown of carbon dioxide. I also want to know how the whole photosynthesis cycle works.

I am working on a science project and figured I could make a scenario for a landing on Mars. I'm going to ask another question on that but, I need to know if taking many plants on the mission would work to make air with enough oxygen in it to support life in some sort of pod. I watched the show called "The Universe" and it said that Mars had a very high carbon dioxide content, so I thought we could use some plants to make oxygenated air. I'm not too advanced in these areas so I would like someone who knows how it works to help me out.

Answer 1

I'm no genius, but CO2 is 1 Carbon and 2 Oxygen molecules. Yes Mars has high levels of CO2, but there are also other compounds in its atmosphere.

O=C=O (CO2) Carbon needs 4 neutrons to balance it, so 2 oxygen molecules share 2 neutrons each to create a single carbon dioxide compound.