B8.3 - How Plants Use Glucose (Finished)

Question 1

What are the five main ways plants use glucose in?

Answer 1

• For respiration
• making cellulose
• making amino acids
• stored as oils or fats
• stored as starch

Question 2

How do plants use glucose in respiration and what for?

Answer 2

Respiration transfers energy from glucose which enables them to convert the rest of the substances into various other useful substances

Question 3

Why do plants use glucose to make cellulose?

Answer 3

Plants convert glucose into cellulose for making strong plant cell walls

Question 4

Why is glucose stored as fats and oils?

Answer 4

Glucose is converted to lipids(fats + oils) as an energy store.
They store it in seeds, providing food for the new plant. They are also used in cells as an energy store.

Question 5

Why is starch better for storing than glucose?

Answer 5

Starch is insoluble in water unlike glucose. If glucose were stored in plant cells it would draw in lots of water making the cell swell up, affecting the water balance of the plant.

Question 6

Why is glucose turned into starch and stored?

Answer 6

Starch is stored in the cells of leaves, providing an energy store for when it is dark or light levels are low (when photosynthesis isn’t happening)
It is also kept in special storage areas of the plant such as tubers or bulbs (e.g. potatoes)

Question 7

How do plants make amino acids?

Answer 7

Plants combine some glucose from photosynthesis with nitrate ions to make amino acids?

Question 8

What do plants use amino acids for?

Answer 8

Plants build up amino acids into proteins to be used in the plant cell (e.g. for enzymes)

Question 9

Why do carnivorous plants survive in nitrate-poor soil?

Answer 9

Theybobtain most of their nutrients from animals (insects) they catch. They produce enzymes to digest them and obtain nutrients.