KS4 Plant Nutrition. Plant Nutrition

1. KS4 Biology

Plant Nutrition
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2. Contents

Plant Nutrition
How do plants make food?
What is photosynthesis?
More about photosynthesis
The rate of photosynthesis
Minerals from the soil
Multiple-choice quiz
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3. How do plants get the food they need?

All living organisms
need food to grow
and survive.
Plants are known as
producers because
they provide food for
many other organisms.
Plants cannot move
very much, so how
do they get the food
that they need?
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4. Nutrition in green plants

Green plants are amazing
because they actually
make their own food!
Green plants are the
only living organisms
that are able to do this.
All other organisms rely
on plants because of the
food that the plants make.
What is the name of the
process by which plants
make their own food?
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5. What is photosynthesis?

Plants make their own food by photosynthesis.
This process is a chemical reaction that uses light energy.
light energy
The word photosynthesis comes
from the Greek language:
“photo” means “light”
“synthesis” means “putting together”
Photosynthesis just means “putting together with light”.
What do green plants “put together” to make their food?
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6. Contents

Plant Nutrition
How do plants make food?
What is photosynthesis?
More about photosynthesis
The rate of photosynthesis
Minerals from the soil
Multiple-choice quiz
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7. Photosynthesis: raw materials

The raw materials
for photosynthesis
come from the air
and the soil.
What are these raw
materials called?
What else do plants
need to turn
carbon dioxide
and water into food?
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carbon
dioxide
water
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8. Photosynthesis: energy for the reaction

Photosynthesis is a
chemical reaction
between carbon
dioxide and water.
light
energy
Energy is needed
for this reaction to
take place.
Where do plants
get this energy
from?
carbon
dioxide
water
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9. Photosynthesis: where it happens

Plants use light
energy from the
Sun to power
photosynthesis.
light
energy
Where in the leaf
does this reaction
take place?
Photosynthesis
takes place in what
part of plant cells?
carbon
dioxide
water
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10. Photosynthesis: where it happens

Photosynthesis takes
place in plant cells
with chloroplasts.
light
energy
Chloroplasts contain
the green chemical
called chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll absorbs
the energy from
sunlight that allows
carbon dioxide and
water to react.
What are the products
of this reaction?
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chlorophyll
carbon
dioxide
water
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11. Photosynthesis: products of the reaction

The products of the
reaction between
carbon dioxide and
water are glucose
and oxygen.
light
energy
chlorophyll
Which of these
products is used
by plants?
What happens to the
‘waste’ product?
carbon
dioxide
oxygen
glucose
water
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12. Photosynthesis: products of the reaction

Glucose is the useful
product for plants.
light
energy
Some glucose is used
straightaway by plant
cells, some is
converted to starch
for storage and later
used for food.
chlorophyll
carbon
Oxygen is the ‘waste’
dioxide
product. This gas is
transported out of the
leaf into the air.
Why is this important
for humans and other
living things?
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oxygen
glucose
water
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13. Photosynthesis: summary

Summarize the process of photosynthesis in one sentence.
Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction
that takes place in the chloroplasts
in green plant cells, where light energy
is used to convert carbon dioxide and water
into glucose and oxygen.
Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction which means it can
also be summarized in a word equation.
What is the word equation for this vital chemical reaction?
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14. Photosynthesis: word equation

light energy
carbon
dioxide
water
glucose
oxygen
chlorophyll
light
energy
chlorophyll
carbon
dioxide
oxygen
glucose
water
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15. Photosynthesis: word equation activity

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16. Photosynthesis: chemical formulae?

Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction involving molecules.
light energy
carbon
dioxide
water
glucose
oxygen
C6H12O6
O2
chlorophyll
CO2
H2O
The chemical formula of a glucose molecule is C6H12O6.
What are the chemical formulae of the simple molecules
that make up carbon dioxide, water and oxygen?
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17. Word equation to chemical equation

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18. Photosynthesis multiple-choice quiz

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19. Contents

Plant Nutrition
How do plants make food?
What is photosynthesis?
More about photosynthesis
The rate of photosynthesis
Minerals from the soil
Multiple-choice quiz
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20. Leaves: maximizing photosynthesis

Leaves are the most efficient
solar panels on Earth!
Why can they be called this?
Light energy is absorbed
by the chlorophyll in leaves
and used to carry out
photosynthesis.
Leaves come in all shapes
and sizes but what features
do they have in common
to maximize photosynthesis?
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21. Structure of a leaf

How are leaves designed to maximize photosynthesis?
Leaves are wide and flat
Leaves are thin so gases
to create a large surface
can reach cells easily.
area and to absorb
as much light as possible.
Leaves have lots of veins
to carry water to the cells
and carry glucose away.
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Leaves have holes, called
stomata, on their
underside through which
gases move in and out.
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22. Structure of a leaf activity

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23. Take a look inside a leaf

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24. What happens to the glucose?

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25. Testing leaves for starch – procedure

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26. Testing leaves for starch – experiment

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27. Photosynthesis and respiration

Only green plants photosynthesize, but respiration occurs
in the cells of all living things to release energy.
Photosynthesis (energy needed)
light energy
carbon
dioxide
water
glucose
oxygen
chlorophyll
Respiration (energy released)
carbon
glucose
oxygen
dioxide
water
Compare the reactants, products and energy results of
these two chemical reactions. How are they connected?
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28. Photosynthesis and respiration

How will the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide
in the air vary over 24 hours?
amount of
oxygen
amount
of gas
in the air
amount of
carbon dioxide
12 a.m.
12 p.m.
12 a.m.
What overall effect do photosynthesis and respiration have
on the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air?
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29. Contents

Plant Nutrition
How do plants make food?
What is photosynthesis?
More about photosynthesis
The rate of photosynthesis
Minerals from the soil
Multiple-choice quiz
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30. The rate of photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction and so has a rate.
light energy
carbon
dioxide
water
glucose
oxygen
chlorophyll
Is the rate of photosynthesis always the same?
The rate of photosynthesis varies depending on three
main factors:
light
carbon dioxide
temperature
How do these factors affect the rate of photosynthesis?
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31. Light and the rate of photosynthesis

Light energy has to be absorbed by chlorophyll
for photosynthesis to take place.
light energy
carbon
dioxide
water
glucose
oxygen
chlorophyll
The brighter the light, the more light energy there is,
so will photosynthesis be faster or slower?
More light energy means that photosynthesis will be faster.
If light intensity is too high plant cells can be damaged.
How is photosynthesis affected if this happens?
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32. Investigating photosynthesis – apparatus

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33. Investigating photosynthesis – experiment

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34. Investigating photosynthesis – results

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35. Carbon dioxide and the rate of photosynthesis

Carbon dioxide is one of the raw materials
used by plants to make their food.
light energy
carbon
dioxide
water
glucose
oxygen
chlorophyll
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the air (0.03%)
is actually quite low.
Why is the concentration of carbon dioxide in
commercial greenhouses often raised to about 0.1%?
More carbon dioxide means more photosynthesis,
so plants make more food and grow quicker.
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36. Temperature and the rate of photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is controlled by enzymes.
Enzymes usually work best at warmer temperatures.
light energy
carbon
dioxide
water
glucose
oxygen
chlorophyll
Why is the rate of photosynthesis slower on a sunny day
in winter compared to in summer?
If the temperature gets too hot (above 40 °C), plant enzymes
begin to break down and are destroyed or denatured.
Why does photosynthesis stop under such conditions?
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37. What is a limiting factor?

What is the ideal combination of factors
for the maximum rate of photosynthesis?
enough light
enough carbon dioxide
ideal temperature (not too hot or cold)
How is the rate affected if one of these factors is restricted?
If one of the factors is restricted, the rate of photosynthesis
will be below the maximum possible rate.
The restricted factor controls how quickly photosynthesis
occurs and so limits the rate. It is called the limiting factor.
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38. Photosynthesis and light – limiting factors

rate of photosynthesis
How does the amount of light affect the rate
of photosynthesis on this labelled graph?
As the amount of light
increases, so does the rate.
The limiting factor is light.
2
Here, increasing the amount
of light has no affect on the
rate. The limiting factor is
now carbon dioxide or
temperature.
2
1
light intensity
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1
What must be increased for
the rate to increase?
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39. Photosynthesis and carbon dioxide – limiting factors

rate of photosynthesis
How does the amount of carbon dioxide affect
the rate of photosynthesis on this labelled graph?
As the amount of carbon
dioxide goes up, so does
the rate. The limiting
factor is carbon dioxide.
2
Here, increasing the
amount of carbon dioxide
has no affect on the rate.
Light or warmth is now
the limiting factor.
2
1
concentration of
carbon dioxide
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1
What must be increased
for the rate to increase?
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40. Photosynthesis and temperature – limiting factors

rate of photosynthesis
How does temperature affect the rate of
photosynthesis on this labelled graph?
2
1
0oC temperature 45oC
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11. As temperature increases,
so does the rate because
photosynthetic enzymes
work best in the warmth.
Here, the limiting factor is
temperature.
2
Most plant enzymes are
destroyed at about 45°C.
Here, photosynthesis stops
and the rate falls to zero.
What is the limiting factor?
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41. Limiting factors activity

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42. Limiting factors in the greenhouse

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43. Contents

Plant Nutrition
How do plants make food?
What is photosynthesis?
More about photosynthesis
The rate of photosynthesis
Minerals from the soil
Multiple-choice quiz
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44. What do plants need for a balanced diet?

Plants need carbon dioxide and water for photosynthesis.
Do they need any other nutrients to keep healthy?
Just like humans, plants need a balanced diet
that includes small amounts of mineral elements.
What mineral elements do they need?
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45. What minerals do plants need?

Plants need mineral elements for healthy growth.
Some of the most important minerals needed by plants are:
nitrogen
nitrates
phosphorus
phosphates
potassium
potassium ions
magnesium
magnesium ions
How do plants obtain these minerals?
The mineral elements are found in salts dissolved in water.
Plants obtain minerals when they absorb water from the soil.
What type of salt are each of these elements found in?
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46. What are minerals needed for?

How do plants use these mineral elements?
Mineral element How mineral is used in plants
nitrogen (N)
phosphorus (P)
potassium (K)
magnesium (Mg)
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making leaves
making roots
making flowers and fruit
making chlorophyll
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47. Plant and minerals – summary activity

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48. Where do minerals come from?

What are the sources of minerals in the soil?
Rocks: The minerals in rocks are
slowly dissolved by slightly acidic
rainwater. These minerals are
washed into the soil.
Natural fertilizers: Animal faeces
and the decay of dead plants and
animals return minerals to the soil.
Artificial fertilizers: These
contain a ready-made mixture
of the minerals needed by plants.
Why do farmers add fertilizers to their soil?
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49. Not enough minerals!

What happens if plants do not get enough minerals?
Plants do not grow properly if they are deprived of minerals
and begin to look unhealthy.
If a plant does not get enough of a mineral it is said
to have a mineral deficiency.
Do mineral deficiencies affect a plant in the same way?
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50. Mineral deficiency – no nitrogen!

Nitrogen is used for making leaves and is probably
the most important mineral for plant growth.
What is the effect of nitrogen deficiency?
upper leaves
pale green
lower leaves
yellow and dead
weak stem
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51. Mineral deficiency – no phosphorus!

Phosphorus is used for making roots and is important
for all the other minerals used by plants.
What is the effect of phosphorus deficiency?
purple leaves
small roots
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52. Mineral deficiency – no potassium!

Potassium is used for making flowers and fruit, so
crops are given extra potassium before they start to fruit.
What is the effect of potassium deficiency?
poor flower
and fruit growth
yellow leaves
with dead spots
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53. Mineral deficiency – no magnesium!

Magnesium is used for making chlorophyll
and so is vital for the process of photosynthesis.
What is the effect of magnesium deficiency?
upper leaves normal
(leaves turn yellow
from bottom upwards)
lower leaves pale green
or yellow
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54. Mineral deficiency experiment

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55. Plant and minerals summary

Complete this table of plant mineral needs and deficiencies.
Mineral
Use in plant
Deficiency signs
nitrogen
making leaves
stunted growth and
yellow leaves
phosphorus making roots
potassium
making flowers
and fruits
magnesium making chlorophyll
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poor roots and
purple leaves
yellow leaves with
dead spots
leaves turn yellow
from the bottom
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56. Contents

Plant Nutrition
How do plants make food?
What is photosynthesis?
More about photosynthesis
The rate of photosynthesis
Minerals from the soil
Multiple-choice quiz
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57. Multiple-choice quiz

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