1.2 Transport of water and mineral salts in plants

Question 1

What is wilting?

Answer 1

when a plant becomes floppy due to lack of water

Question 2

Define absorb

Answer 2

to take in or soak up

Question 3

What is a root hair cell?

Answer 3

plant cell found in roots that is adapted for taking in water quickly

Question 4

What is a xylem vessel?

Answer 4

tube formed by the joining of many dead xylem cells

Question 5

Define transpiration

Answer 5

the loss of water vapour through the stomata on the surface of the leaves

Question 6

Explain why a plant wilts when it lacks water

Answer 6

Because plants need water to give cells their shapes.

Question 6

Describe two functions of roots

Answer 6

1. They hold the plant in the ground
2. They take in water and minerals (or mineral salts)

Question 7

What do root hairs absorb?

Answer 7

They absorb water

Question 8

Explain how ‘root hairs’ help cells to absorb substances quickly?

Answer 8

Root hair cells have bits sticking out of them that look a bit like hairs. A ‘root hair’ gives a cell a lot of surface area, which helps it absorb water quickly.

Question 9

Make a labelled drawing of a root hair cell, showing all its parts

Question 10

How are xylem cells adapted to their function?

Answer 10

Xylem cells form chains and then die, to form hollow tubes (or vessels). Xylem vessels run continuously from the roots up to the leaves. They have thick cell walls, containing lignin.

Question 11

What is lignin?

Answer 11

It is a substance that makes the cells walls of xylem vessels very strong and stops it from collapsing.

Question 12

How does water move into the plant’s leaves from the soil?

Answer 12

Water and mineral salts move from root hair cells and into the xylem vessels found in the middle of the roots. They then travel up to the leaves.

Question 13

Describe what happens in the process of transpiration

Answer 13

Water and mineral salts move from root hair cells and into the xylem vessels found in the middle of the roots. They then travel up to the leaves where they enter the cells. The water evaporates into the air spaces and the water vapour exits the leaves through stomata. As water is lost, it pulls more water up through the xylem and into the leaves.

Question 14

List the organs in a plant’s ‘water transport system.’

Answer 14

root
stem
leaves

Question 15

Why do plants need magnesium (from magnesium salts)

Answer 15

To make chlorophyll

Question 16

What happens if a plant does not get magnesium (from magnesium salts)

Answer 16

The plant turns yellow because it cannot make chlorophyll

Question 17

Why do plants need nitrogen (from nitrate salts)

Answer 17

To make proteins so that the plant can grow and repair itself

Question 18

What happens if a plant does not get nitrogen (from nitrate salts)

Answer 18

Reduced plant growth

Question 19

Why do plants need phosphorus (from phosphate salts)

Answer 19

For respiration and growth

Question 20

What happens if a plant does not get phosphorus (from phosphate salts)

Answer 20

Reduced plant growth

Question 21

Why do plants need potassium (from potassium salts)

Answer 21

To help plants absorb and transport water

Question 22

What happens if a plant does not get potassium (from potassium salts)

Answer 22

The edges of leaves turn brown

Question 23

What 2 types of substance do plants absorb through their roots?

Answer 23

Water and Mineral Salts