Starter quiz
- Diffusion is the net movement of particles ...
- from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration.
- through a selectively-permeable membrane.
- from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. ✓
- against a concentration gradient.
-
- Osmosis is a specific type of diffusion that involves the movement of ______ molecules through a selectively-permeable membrane.
- 'water' ✓
- __________ uses energy to move particles against the natural gradient.
- Diffusion
- Osmosis
- Active transport ✓
-
- Which sub-cellular structures carry out cellular respiration?
- ribosomes
- chloroplasts
- mitochondria ✓
-
- Which type of leaf cells carry out the most photosynthesis?
- spongy mesophyll cells
- palisade mesophyll cells ✓
- guard cells
- epidermal cells
-
- Which type of specialised plant cells do not contain chloroplasts?
- root hair cells ✓
- palisade mesophyll cells
- spongy mesophyll cells
- guard cells
-
Exit quiz
- 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.
- To transport water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant. ✓
-
- Which cells increase the surface area for water and mineral uptake in roots?
- Companion cells
- Root hair cells ✓
- Sieve tubes
- Stomata
-
- What is the main function of phloem in plants?
- To increase surface area for absorption.
- To support the plant structurally.
- To transport sugars produced by photosynthesis. ✓
- To transport water and minerals from the roots.
-
- What role do stomata play in the process of gas exchange in leaves?
- 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.
-
- Which of the following are phloem responsible for transporting?
- Sugars and amino acids ✓
- Water and minerals
- Oxygen and carbon dioxide
- Proteins and lipids
-
- Match the transport method to where it occurs in a plant.
- Diffusion⇔Water vapour out of the leaves ✓
- Active transport⇔Sugars and amino acids into and out of the phloem ✓
- Osmosis⇔Water into the root hair cells from the soil ✓
Worksheet
Presentation
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Cells in all parts of a multicellular plant need water and nutrients, such as mineral ions, to stay alive.
- Xylem and phloem transport substances around the plant and minimise the distance they have to diffuse to reach cells.
- Root hair cells are an example of an exchange surface in plants.
- 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