Final answer:
Carbon dioxide is a compound that consists of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms and is vital for life on Earth through its role in the carbon cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbon dioxide, or CO₂, is a compound composed of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms chemically bonded together. It is not a mixture because it has a fixed composition and not an element because it consists of more than one type of atom. Carbon dioxide has several roles in the environment, including being an integral component of the carbon cycle, where it is utilized by plants during photosynthesis and produced by respiration in animals and during the burning of fossil fuels.