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Year 11
AQA
Higher

The importance of exchange surfaces and transport systems in plants

I can explain how exchange surfaces and transport systems enable cells in multicellular plants to be supplied quickly with substances they need to stay alive.

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New
New
Year 11
AQA
Higher

The importance of exchange surfaces and transport systems in plants

I can explain how exchange surfaces and transport systems enable cells in multicellular plants to be supplied quickly with substances they need to stay alive.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Cells in all parts of a multicellular plant need water and nutrients, such as mineral ions, to stay alive.
  2. Xylem and phloem transport substances around the plant and minimise the distance they have to diffuse to reach cells.
  3. Root hair cells are an example of an exchange surface in plants.
  4. The root hair cell membrane is adapted to maximise the surface area for osmosis of water and active transport of ions.

Common misconception

Students struggle with the idea that plants have organs and systems like humans, and that all these systems and cells are adapted with specialised features to enable them to do their job effectively.

The plant vascular system and human circulatory system have been compared, and human lung alveoli and digestive system villi have been compared with root hair cells.

Keywords

  • Diffusion - the net movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration

  • Active transport - the net movement of particles against a concentration gradient using energy

  • Osmosis - the net movement of water molecules through a selectively-permeable membrane from high to low concentration of water molecules

  • Exchange surface - a specialised surface which enables the efficient exchange of substances

  • Surface area - the total area of the surface of an object

Use wrapping paper to help show in practical terms by how much the surface area increases in root hair cells because of the 'hair'.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None required.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Diffusion is the net movement of particles ...
from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration.
through a selectively-permeable membrane.
Correct answer: from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
against a concentration gradient.
Q2.
Osmosis is a specific type of diffusion that involves the movement of molecules through a selectively-permeable membrane.
Correct Answer: water, H2O
Q3.
__________ uses energy to move particles against the natural gradient.
Diffusion
Osmosis
Correct answer: Active transport
Q4.
Which sub-cellular structures carry out cellular respiration?
ribosomes
chloroplasts
Correct answer: mitochondria
Q5.
Which type of leaf cells carry out the most photosynthesis?
spongy mesophyll cells
Correct answer: palisade mesophyll cells
guard cells
epidermal cells
Q6.
Which type of specialised plant cells do not contain chloroplasts?
Correct answer: root hair cells
palisade mesophyll cells
spongy mesophyll cells
guard cells

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the function of xylem in plants?
To increase surface area for absorption.
To support the plant structurally.
To transport nutrients produced by photosynthesis.
Correct answer: To transport water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant.
Q2.
Which cells increase the surface area for water and mineral uptake in roots?
Companion cells
Correct answer: Root hair cells
Sieve tubes
Stomata
Q3.
What is the main function of phloem in plants?
To increase surface area for absorption.
To support the plant structurally.
Correct answer: To transport sugars produced by photosynthesis.
To transport water and minerals from the roots.
Q4.
What role do stomata play in the process of gas exchange in leaves?
Correct answer: They allow gases to move in and out of the leaf.
They increase the surface area for water absorption.
They support the plant structurally.
They transport nutrients throughout the plant.
Q5.
Which of the following are phloem responsible for transporting?
Correct answer: Sugars and amino acids
Water and minerals
Oxygen and carbon dioxide
Proteins and lipids
Q6.
Match the transport method to where it occurs in a plant.
Correct Answer:Diffusion,Water vapour out of the leaves

Water vapour out of the leaves

Correct Answer:Active transport,Sugars and amino acids into and out of the phloem

Sugars and amino acids into and out of the phloem

Correct Answer:Osmosis,Water into the root hair cells from the soil

Water into the root hair cells from the soil