Test: Absorption by Roots - The Processes Involved - Class 10 MCQ

The primary function of roots is to absorb water and mineral nutrients from the soil, which are essential for the overall growth and development of the plant. Roots anchor the plant and play a crucial role in nutrient uptake, which supports photosynthesis and other physiological processes.

An isotonic solution has equal concentrations of solute and water on both sides of a cell membrane, resulting in no net movement of water. Consequently, the shape and size of the plant cell remain unchanged, maintaining cellular stability.

When a plant cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, water enters the cell, causing it to swell and become turgid. This turgidity is essential for maintaining the structural integrity of the cell and overall plant health.

Root hairs significantly increase the surface area available for water and nutrient absorption. Their extensive surface allows plants to efficiently uptake essential resources from the soil, crucial for their growth and vitality.

In a hypotonic solution, the concentration of solute outside the cell is lower than inside, causing water to move into the cell. This influx can lead to the cell swelling and potentially bursting if the pressure exceeds the cell wall's capacity.

Phloem is primarily responsible for transporting food, specifically sugars and other nutrients, from the leaves to other parts of the plant. This transportation is vital for the energy needs of non-photosynthetic tissues.

Active transport is the process that requires energy from the cell to move substances from areas of lower concentration to higher concentration. This energy is essential for the uptake of nutrients that are not passively absorbed.

Osmosis is defined as the movement of water molecules across a semi-permeable membrane from a more dilute solution to a less dilute solution. It is a vital process for maintaining cell turgidity and ensuring that cells receive adequate water.

Diffusion is the process where molecules move freely from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration without the need for a semi-permeable membrane. It occurs in both gases and liquids and is crucial for various biological processes.

Capillarity involves the ability of water to move through narrow spaces, such as xylem vessels, due to adhesive forces. This phenomenon helps pull water upward from the roots, supporting the overall rise of sap in the plant.

Xylem is primarily responsible for conducting water and dissolved minerals upward from the roots to the rest of the plant. This transport is essential for maintaining hydration and supporting photosynthesis.

Active transport is the process through which nutrients are moved from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration using energy. This mechanism allows plant roots to absorb essential minerals against their concentration gradient.

Imbibition is the process where water is absorbed by living or dead plant cells due to surface attraction. This process is particularly important in germination, where it helps seeds swell and break through their coats.

Tonicity refers to the relative concentration of solute in solutions, which determines how water moves across cell membranes. Understanding tonicity is crucial for predicting how cells react in different environments, impacting their health and function.

Plasmolysis occurs when a plant cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, causing it to lose water and shrink. The cytoplasm pulls away from the cell wall, leading to a state known as flaccidity, which can affect the plant's structural integrity.

Turgor pressure in the guard cells surrounding each stoma controls their opening and closing. When the guard cells are turgid, they swell and bow outward, causing the stomata to open, facilitating gas exchange necessary for photosynthesis.

Guttation is the process where excess water is expelled from the leaves, often seen as droplets at the leaf margins or tips. It occurs due to high root pressure, exceeding osmotic pressure in the leaf cells, causing water to be pushed out through hydathodes.

Oxygen is not absorbed in significant amounts by plant roots as a mineral nutrient. Instead, plants primarily absorb nitrogen, potassium, and calcium, which are essential for their growth and metabolic processes.

Root pressure is the pressure generated in the roots due to the continuous inward movement of water through osmosis. This pressure aids in the upward movement of sap through the plant's vascular system.

Turgidity refers to the state of a plant cell when it is fully swollen with water, achieving maximum capacity. This condition is crucial for maintaining structural support and integrity, enabling plants to stand upright.