Ch.

4 - Absorption by roots

Q1. What are the needs of water and minerals for plants ?
Ans: photosynthesis , transpiration , transportation , mechanical stiffness

Q2. Name a few nutrients absorbed by roots

Ans: nitrates, phosphates , sulphates , potassium , calcium , magnesium

Q3. What are the characteristics of roots for absorbing water-

● Surface area of roots is enormous
● Root hairs contain cell sap of higher concentration than that of the surrounding water
● Root hairs have thin walls

Q4. Define :

1. Imbibition - is a phenomenon by which the living or dead plant cells absorb water by
surface attraction.

2. Diffusion - is the free movement of molecules of a substance from the region of their
higher concentration to the region of the their lower concentration when the 2 are in
direct contact

3. Osmosis - is the movement of water molecules from the region of higher

concentration ( dilute solution or with a lower solute concentration ) to their region of
lower concentration ( dilute solution or with a lower solute concentration ) through a
semi-permeable membrane

4. Osmotic pressure - is the minimum pressure that must be exerted to prevent the
passage of the pure solvent into the solution when the 2 are separated by a semi
permeable membrane.
OR
Osmotic pressure of a solution is the measure of its tendency to take in water by
osmosis.

5. Tonicity - Relative concentration of the solutions that determine the direction and
extent of diffusion is called tonicity.

6. Isotonic solution - The relative concentration of water molecules and the solute on
either side of the cell membrane is not same. In such a solution , there is no net
movement of water molecules across the cell membrane.

7. Hypotonic solution - The solution outside the cell has a lower solute concentration
than the fluids inside the cell. As a result, the water molecules from outside will move
into the cell (endosmosis).

8. Hypertonic solution - The solution outside the cell has a higher solute concentration
than the fluids inside the cell. As a result , the water molecules from the interior of the
cell will move out (exosmosis) .
 9. Active transport - is the passage of a substance from its lower to jigher
concentration through a living cell membrane using energy from the cell ( active
transport is in a direction opposite to that of diffusion ).

10. Passive transport - is nothing different from diffusion , it refers to requiring no input
of energy.There is a free movement of molecules from their higher concentration to
their lower concentration.

11. Turgidity - When a cell reaches a state where it cannot accomodate any more water
, i.e. it is fully distended, it is called turgid and the condition is called turgidity.When a
cell is turgid , it’s wall is stretched under pressure from inside , and in turn , it presses
the cell contents towards the center of the cell.

12. Turgor pressure - the pressure of the cell contents on the cell wall is called turgor
pressure

13. Wall pressure - the pressure of the cell wall on the cell contents is called wall
pressure

14. Plasmolysis - It is the contraction of cytoplasm from the cell wall Caused due to the
withdrawal of water when placed in a strong ( hypertonic ) solution.

15. Flaccidity - It is the condition in which the cell content is shrunken and the cell is no
more “tight”, the cell is then said to be flaccid.

Q5. Give reason:

1. Dry seeds, wooden doors, swell up in contact with water or exposure to moist air
Ans: Due to imbibitional pressure , seed coat ruptures in case of germinating seeds.
Substances which are made up of cellulose or proteins are hydrophobic, they imbibe water
or moisture and swell up.

2. Sometimes fruits and vegetables burst

Ans: When the cell wall is unable to bear the turgor pressure , it ruptures and the cell
contents burst out.

Q6. What is the difference between endosmosis and exosmosis?

ENDOSMOSIS EXOSMOSIS

● It is the inward diffusion of water ● It is the outward diffusion of water

though a semi permeable though a semi permeable
membrane when the surrounding membrane when the surrounding
solution is less concentrated solution is more concentrated
● This tends to swell up the cell ● This causes shrinkage to the cell
Q7. Name a few examples of semi permeable membranes that can be used for experiments
Ans: cellophane paper , egg membrane , animal bladder

Q15. Give evidences to prove that the solution is isotonic , hypotonic or hypertonic
Ans: Isotonic - cell shape and size remain unchanged
Hypertonic - cell shrinks in size and loses shape
Hypotonic - cell slightly enlarges or even bursts