The atoms stop moving. The atoms recycle back into the environment. The atoms split into simpler parts and then combine to form other atoms. The atoms no longer exist once the animal has decomposed.
I gave my students this multiple choice question: Animals are made up of many atoms. What happens to the atoms after an animal has died?

Only one answer is correct among these 4 choices:
- The atoms stop moving.
- The atoms recycle back into the environment.
- The atoms split into simpler parts and then combine to form other atoms.
- The atoms no longer exist once the animal has decomposed.

Could you tell me which one is correct?

The atoms recycle back into the environment.