New
New
Year 11
Edexcel
Higher

Plant roots are adapted to absorb water and mineral ions

I can explain how water and mineral ions are absorbed into specialised root hair cells that are adapted to maximise absorption.

New
New
Year 11
Edexcel
Higher

Plant roots are adapted to absorb water and mineral ions

I can explain how water and mineral ions are absorbed into specialised root hair cells that are adapted to maximise absorption.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Plants need water for support (to remain turgid) because they don’t have bones, and for photosynthesis in cells.
  2. Plants need mineral ions for growth and repair, including nitrate ions as a source of nitrogen to make proteins.
  3. Particles of water are absorbed by osmosis, a type of diffusion, into plant root hair cells.
  4. Nitrate ions are absorbed into plant root hair cells by active transport, which requires energy.
  5. Root hair cells are adapted to increase the surface area of membrane for osmosis and active transport.

Common misconception

Some students do not realise the significance of the shape of the root hair cell and do not explain this in terms of increasing its surface area.

The idea of surface area as the significant adaptation of root hair cells is clearly introduced, checked, and reinforced with specific tasks that explicitly enquire about this adaptation.

Keywords

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

  • Net movement - the overall movement of particles

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

  • Concentration gradient - a difference in the concentration of particles from one area to another

  • Root hair cell - a specialised plant cell found in the roots that absorb water and nutrients into the plant

Use a hand lens to observe roots grown in water, and show how adding a 'hair' to a box 'cell' greatly increases the surface area - do this by wrapping it with paper and comparing the amount of paper required to wrap it with and without 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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6 Questions

Q1.
Water is needed by plants for photosynthesis. Where do plants get this water from?
An image in a quiz
Leaves absorb rainwater through stomata.
Correct answer: Roots absorb water from the soil.
Flowers absorb water when it rains.
Q2.
Which subcellular structure in plant cells is the site of photosynthesis?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: chloroplasts, chloroplast
Q3.
Which gas in air is needed for photosynthesis?
Correct answer: carbon dioxide
nitrogen
oxygen
argon
Q4.
Which gas made by photosynthesis is excreted by leaves during daylight?
Correct Answer: oxygen
Q5.
Match each word to its correct meaning.
Correct Answer:active transport ,use of energy to move particles against a concentration gradient

use of energy to move particles against a concentration gradient

Correct Answer:diffusion,net movement of particles from a region of high to lower concentration

net movement of particles from a region of high to lower concentration

Correct Answer:concentration gradient ,a difference in concentration of particles from one region to another

a difference in concentration of particles from one region to another

Correct Answer:osmosis,the diffusion of water molecules through a membrane

the diffusion of water molecules through a membrane

Q6.
During active transport, a protein in the cell membrane changes shape to transport particles through the membrane against a concentration gradient.
Correct Answer: carrier

6 Questions

Q1.
Which is the correct word summary for photosynthesis?
Correct answer: carbon dioxide + water --> glucose + oxygen
oxygen + glucose --> water + carbon dioxide
water + glucose --> carbon dioxide + oxygen
carbon dioxide + glucose --> water + oxygen
Q2.
Water can leave the plant via pores in the leaves called .
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: stomata, stoma
Q3.
Match each mineral to how it is used by plants.
Correct Answer:magnesium,to make chlorophyll

to make chlorophyll

Correct Answer:nitrogen ,needed to make amino acids

needed to make amino acids

Correct Answer:phosphates,needed to make nucleotides

needed to make nucleotides

Q4.
Match each substance to how it is absorbed by plants.
Correct Answer:water,osmosis

osmosis

Correct Answer:carbon dioxide,diffsion

diffsion

Correct Answer:nitrate,active transport

active transport

Q5.
The ‘hair’ of a root hair cells is what distinguishes it from other root cells. How does the hair adapt a root hair cell for its function?
An image in a quiz
It increases the transfer of energy for active transport.
It increases the concentration gradient to speed up osmosis.
Correct answer: It increases the surface area to speed up diffusion.
It increases the ability of a cell to move.
Q6.
The diagram shows a root hair cell with many mitochondria. What is the function of mitochondria?
An image in a quiz
to speed up diffusion
to speed up osmosis
the site of photosynthesis
Correct answer: the site of aerobic cellular respiration
Q5 UYSEG Q6 UYSEG