Photosynthesis and plant growth

Photosynthesis is the process used by green plants and a few

organisms that use sunlight, carbon dioxide and water to
prepare their food.” The process of photosynthesis is used by
plants, algae and certain bacteria that convert light energy into
chemical energy. Photosynthesis is very important
because almost all living things depend on plants for food.
Photosynthesis is also important because of the oxygen it
produces. Humans and other animals need to breathe in
oxygen to survive .
Photosynthesis reaction is written as:
6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2.
Resources: Plants get the resources such as light, carbon dioxide,
water, warmth, small amounts of substances called minerals from
their habitats. Different plants grow in different places based on their
adaptations and resources available to survive.
Photosynthesis: it is a chemical process of synthesizing new
chemical substances (products) from raw materials(reactants) in
the presence of light. It involves a series of chemical reactions by
which CO2, H2O are converted into O2 and glucoe-C6H12O6
Many cells in leaves contain chloroplasts, which contain a green
pigment called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll absorbs light energy from
sunlight. This energy is used to power photosynthesis and is finally
stored in the glucose molecules.
The oxygen made in photosynthesis is released by the plant into the
atmosphere. This oxygen is used by animals and plants to respire
 https://youtu.be/KNn3BkLtn4Y

- experiment to show oxygen production

in photosynthesis.

https://youtu.be/yR6W34EoYyU
- Experiment to show CO2 is essential for
photosynthesis

https://youtu.be/Yqo6-qDQoMA
Expt. To show light is necessary for
photosynthesis
Activity 1.1.( Page no.4&5)
Science in context( page no.5)
 Adaptations of a leaf
Leaves are adapted for photosynthesis by containing different
specialized cells.
Palisade cells: contain large number of chloroplasts to capture
maximum sun light. The palisade cells at the upper side are packed
with chloroplasts to maximize photosynthesis. On the lower half of the
leaf are spongy mesophyll cells. These have air spaces between them to
let gases flow.

Guard cells: All surfaces of the leaf have some number of stomata for
regulating gas exchange(by diffusion) for photosynthesis. However, the
lower epidermis (the underside of the leaf) has more, because it is
more often in the shade and so it is cooler, which means evaporation
won't take place as much.
Plant carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are compounds made from carbon, hydrogen and
oxygen.
Some carbohydrates are small , soluble and simple , these are
simple sugars. Example: Glucose is a simple sugar.
All plant cells use glucose for aerobic respiration. Plants also make
their own complex/large compounds using glucose. Examples for
complex carbohydrates that plant make are starch, cellulose.
Plants convert glucose to starch for storage and long-term energy
usage. Unlike glucose, Starch is insoluble and can be stored in plant
tissues, making it a more efficient form of energy storage than glucose.
At night, when photosynthesis stops, the plant uses the starch
to make other compounds and these compounds get transported out
of the leaf.
 Test for starch using iodine solution
• Take the tweezers and hold the leaves to dip them inside the boiling
water for about 2 minutes. Then, dip the leaves inside the ethanol till
it loses the green colour. After that, place the leaf in a shallow dish
and wait for it to cool. Put some drops of iodine to see the presence
of starch. If starch is present, it will turn to bluish purple colour.

• https://youtu.be/E9CSyXS3pXc- iodine test for starch.

https://youtu.be/PSGKRd7Bbl0 - summery of photosynthesis

Activity 1.2 ( page no.9)
Activity 1.3 ( page no.9)
Activity 1.4 ( page no.10)
Topic 1.1. questions - answers
1.2: Transport of water and mineral salts in plants
Fresh Vs wilted plant:

Roots hold a plant in the

ground and take in water and
minerals. A plant needs
water for photosynthesis. It
also needs water to give
cells their shapes. Without
enough water, plant cells
start to collapse and plant
wilts/becomes floppy.
Absorbing water
• Roots use specialized root hair cells to absorb water. A root hair
gives a root cell a lot of surface area to absorb water quickly along
with minerals.
• Plants (roots, stems and leaves) contain conducting tissues / tubes
that carry substances to and from a leaf - Xylem tissue and phloem
tissue
Xylem cells carry water from roots into a leaf. Its movement is
unidirectional. Some of this water evaporates from the cells and this
vapor diffuses out of the leaf through small holes called-stomata( stoma
is singular). Hence, plant need continuous supply of water to replenish
water loss.
Xylem/ xylem vessels consists of dead cells. The cells that make up the xylem
are adapted to their function : They lose their end walls, so the xylem forms
a continuous, hollow tube. They become strengthened by a substance called
lignin lining the xylem vessels providing strength and support and stops
them from collapsing. The structural elements of xylem are tracheids,
vessels , xylem fibres, xylem parenchyma and sclerenchyma which is dead
component .
 Phloem:
The transport cells in phloem are called sieve-tubes. Phloem sieve tubes
are living cells with thin cell walls. In xylem vessels the end walls break
down completely but in phloem sieve tubes, the end walls are filled with
many holes forming a structure called a sieve plate.

Food prepared by leaves(source) is

carried to other parts(sink) of the
plant by phloem. The four
elements of phloem are Sieve
tubes, Companion cells, , phloem
parenchyma and phloem fibers
which is a dead component in the
phloem.
Water from soil moving up in the plant’s xylem : soil → root → stem → leaves.
 Transpiration
Transpiration is essentially evaporation of water from stomata on leaves of
the plant. It creates suction force.(Stoma is the singular)
This suction force helps in transporting water up to larger
heights in plants against the force of gravity. It also leads to excessive loss of
water sometimes causing the wilting of leaves. Thus, transpiration is a
necessary evil.
Leaf stomata are the primary sites of transpiration and consist
of two guard cells that form a small pore on the surfaces of leaves. The
guard cells control the opening and closing of the stomata in response to
various environmental stimuli and can regulate the rate of transpiration to
reduce water loss.
https://youtu.be/vsW-B8ikZfA
- opening and closing of stomata 3D animation
https://youtu.be/N1FGg6rcNl0 - microscopic footage
• Transpiration stream: The stream of water and solutes flowing from
the roots to the leaves through the stem is called the transpiration
stream.
The rate of transpiration or speed of water loss from the
plant depends on the conditions around the plant. The factors affecting
transpiration are wind, speed, light, humidity, and temperature.

Warmer temperatures generally lead to higher transpiration rates,

while higher humidity levels decrease the rate of water loss.
Additionally, windy conditions and bright sunlight also increase the rate
of transpiration.
Advantages of transpirations to the plant:
Transpiration is a passive process that requires no energy expense by the
plant through which it gets water needed for photosynthesis.
Transpiration also cools plants, changes osmotic pressure of cells, and
enables mass flow of mineral nutrients.
Water circulation in plant
 Mineral salts : for healthy growth of plants
Apart from water, plants need minerals in very small amounts to make
some of the substances they need.
When chemists began studying plants, they discovered that plants
contain a wide range of elements.
Except for carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, Plants obtain these
elements in the form of mineral salts from the soil.
Examples:
Nitrogen from nitrate salts(ammonia, urea etc)
Phosphorous from phosphate salts(bone ash, calcium phosphate
etc)
Potassium from potassium salts(potassium nitrate, potassium
chloride)
Magnesium from magnesium salts(Magnesium sulphate).
Scientists found out about the importance of each mineral by using a
solution with all the minerals that plants need, except the one they were
investigating. They compared these results with the plant that was grown
using the solution with all the minerals required and discovered the
following:
Nitrogen: it is needed for development of leaves.
leaves turn yellow, and the plant shows poor growth without
nitrogen. Nitrogen is needed for making proteins for growth.
Phosphorous: It is needed for the development of
roots. Its deficiency will lead to stunted growth of the plant with
leaves curled, distorted with purplish tint. Phosphorous is
needed to make ATP which helps plant for in photosynthesis
and respiration.
 Potassium: it is needed for the development of
flowers and fruits, it also regulate the opening and
closing of stomata. Its deficiency will make leaves
yellow , browning at the edges.

Magnesium: It largely needed for chlorophyll

synthesis and enzyme activation. Its deficiency leads to
Yellowing between the leaf veins and early leaf fall.
element Needed for Deficiency symptoms

nitrogen To make proteins and amino acids. Necessary for leaves turn yellow, and the plant
vitamins and cell division shows poor growth

phosphorous needed for the development of roots and to make will lead to stunted growth of the
ATP which helps plant in photosynthesis and plant with leaves curled,
respiration. distorted with purplish tint
potassium needed for the development of flowers and fruits, it Its deficiency will make leaves
also regulate the opening and closing of stomata. yellow , browning at the edges.

mabnesium needed for chlorophyll synthesis and enzyme Its deficiency leads to Yellowing
activation. between the leaf veins and early
leaf fall
Images of leaves – mineral deficiency

Nitrogen Phosphorous Potassium Magnesium

deficiency deficiency deficiency deficiency
 Artificial fertilizers
The chemical substances supplied to the soil to increase crop productivity
are called fertilizers. These chemical substances are rich in plant
nutrients. Farmers use these to increase the quality and yield of crops.
What are the advantages of artificial fertilizers?
Artificial fertilizers contain a relatively high quantity of nutrients so
smaller volumes of them are needed. Artificial fertilizers can release
their nutrients into the soil very quickly.
The disadvantages of excessive use of fertilizers are:
The naturally occurring microorganisms in soil are harmed by the
chemicals in the fertilizers. So, It can destroy the soil’s natural fertility of
an area. It can cause soil and water pollution.
Activity 1.5( page no.15)
 Activity 1.6(page no. 16-17)
A1 .Any sensible suggestion (e.g. plant growth depends on different mineral salts)
A2 .To ensure that there were repeats for each mineral set. This would reduce error
in her results and ensure that her results were reliable.
A3 .Thema predicted that magnesium and nitrates are both important for the healthy
growth of duckweed.
A4. So that she can be sure her conclusions are correct
A5 .Thema should be cautious about using the findings from the other group, as
she doesn't know whether they may have made mistakes in method or observations.
(For example, they may have mixed up the contents of the jar and therefore made
incorrect observations). Thema could also compare her findings to other secondary
sources which may be more reliable, such as textbooks or results of investigations
done by scientists. She could also repeat her investigation and perhaps use a different
method of observation such as measuring the mass of the plant over time or do more
repeats of each condition.
 Path of minerals through living organisms
• When animals eat plants, they take in the minerals present in the
plant tissues and use these minerals in their bodies. Some of
these minerals are released in the solid and liquid wastes( dung,
urine) that animals produce.
• As bacteria (decomposers) feed upon these wastes, the minerals
salts are released back into the soil. All the biodegradable
substances (dead plants and animals and their wastes) are
broken down into simple substances by decomposers, so that
they can be used again by other living organisms.
These simple substances have been recycled since the beginning of
life on Earth.
1)When investigating the importance of different mineral salts, why
was a solution used , rather than a mixture of soil and solution?

2)Could you be the recycled dinosaur? Explain your answer.

3) How could you demonstrate to farmers that using dung on the soil
can improve their crops.?
Topic 1.2 , answers for the questions
 13.1 Carbon cycle- climate change
The earth’s climate can change due to a change in the mixture of
gases in the atmosphere.

5 aspects in carbon cycle

1.Photosynthesis
2. Respiration
3. Feeding
4.decomposition
5.combustion
 Importance of Carbon Cycle
Even though carbon dioxide is found in small traces in the
atmosphere, it plays a vital role in balancing the energy and traps the
long-wave radiations from the sun. Therefore, it acts like a blanket over
the planet. If the carbon cycle is disturbed it will result in serious
consequences such as climatic changes and global warming. Carbon
dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas. This means that it causes an effect
like the glass in a greenhouse, trapping heat and warming up the
inside. This effect is important: without the CO2 that naturally exists in
the atmosphere, Earth might be too cold to support human life.
Carbon is an integral component of every life form on
earth. From proteins and lipids to even our DNA. Furthermore, all
known life on earth is based on carbon. Hence, carbon cycle is very
important for the life to exist.
 Role of photosynthesis in carbon cycle
1) Through the process of photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is
pulled from the air to produce food made from carbon for plant
growth. Carbon moves from plants to animals. Through food
chains, the carbon that is in plants moves to the animals that eat
them. Animals that eat other animals get the carbon from their
food too. The primary producers/plants form the base of an
ecosystem and fuel the next trophic levels. Without this process,
life on Earth would not be possible.
2) Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
and stores in it, and cellular respiration puts it back to the
atmosphere. Photosynthesis releases oxygen into the
atmosphere, and cellular respiration uses that oxygen to release
energy from food.
 Role of respiration in carbon cycle
• Animals and humans respire and release carbon dioxide. Animals
and humans eat plants/other animals and the carbon in
plants/other animals is transferred to them. Bacteria and fungi and
other decomposers respire and release carbon to the atmosphere.
Respiration takes place in mitochondria and is a vital
process in the carbon cycle. It ensures the continuous movement of
carbon from the biosphere to the atmosphere, maintaining the
balance of carbon in the environment.
When living things die, decomposers break down their bodies
and return nutrients to the soil, including carbon. If there were no
decomposers, the carbon would be trapped inside the dead
organisms and could not be put back into the Earth .
Source and sink of carbon: Each arrow in the carbon cycle
indicate the movement or transfer of carbon.
All photosynthetic plants act as sink for carbon, which
means carbon from atmosphere is locked in plant .Organisms
that respire ( including decomposers) are sources for carbon,
which means carbon locked in the cells is released back into
the atmosphere.
Animals and plants respire at all times. It is represented as
Glucose + Oxygen→ carbon dioxide +water + energy
Photosynthesis and respiration together form a core part of the
carbon cycle.
Hence , we can conclude that Photosynthesis is a sink
of CO2 and Respiration is a source of CO2.
 Role of feeding and decomposition in carbon cycle
Feeding: Through food chains, the carbon that is in plants moves
to the animals that eat them. Animals that eat other animals get
the carbon from their food too. Carbon moves from plants and
animals and back to soils.

Decomposition: When plants and animals die, their bodies,

wood and leaves decay bringing the carbon back into the
ground. Decomposition is the process by which bacteria and
fungi break dead organic matter into the simple
substances .Plants can absorb and use these simple compounds
again, completing the cycle.
 Role of combustion in carbon cycle
when considering climate change, we also need to understand the
effects of human activities on the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a major
product of combustion/burning. This moves carbon from the biosphere
into the atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels by humans has
dramatically increased carbon emissions from combustion, becoming a
major source of carbon dioxide.

Wood burning is a source of carbon dioxide, because wood

is made of carbon compounds and after reacting with oxygen it will
release carbon dioxide. Burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and
natural gas is known as combustion. The carbon from the fuel
combines with the oxygen in the air to release carbon dioxide (CO2)
and water vapor (H2O).
Wood/fuel + oxygen -----→ carbon dioxide + water.
• Hydrocarbons are the substances that contain hydrogen and
carbon molecules only . Examples: Some examples of
hydrocarbons are methane(CH4) , ethene(C2H4), and
benzene(C2H6).
• Fossil fuels: Fossil fuel is a general term for non-renewable
energy sources such as coal, coal products, natural gas, crude oil,
petroleum products . These fuels originate from plants and
animals that existed in the geological past ( millions of years ago).
Over millions of years under high pressure and high temperature,
compressed between the layers of rocks, the remains of these
organisms transformed into what we know today as fossil fuels.
These fossil fuels are all Hydrocarbons. They are compounds
formed from only two elements, Carbon and Hydrogen.
 https://youtu.be/bRuSmxJo_iA
Some skeletons or structures were preserved in this process and these
remnants are called as fossils.
Majority of scientists agree that :
1) CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is increasing
2) Much of this increase is due to human activities
3) This is causing in rise of average temperature of the globe.
https://youtu.be/oJAbATJCugs global warming

The day after tomorrow – movie about oversized tsunami