AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Xylem transports plant water and minerals. Root hair is the hair found in the roots of plants. These root hairs absorb water and minerals from the soil because they are in direct contact with the water film between the soil particles. Through the diffusion process, water enters the root hairs.

Detailed explanation-2: -Vegetable plants transpire water from their leaves, creating suction on the water at the root surface that draws the nutritious surface soil solution toward the plant roots. This process of mass flow caused by leaf transpiration explains how most plant nutrients (98 percent) move from the soil to the root surface.

Detailed explanation-3: -Mineral nutrients are usually obtained from the soil through plant roots, but many factors can affect the efficiency of nutrient acquisition. First, the chemistry and composition of certain soils can make it harder for plants to absorb nutrients.

Detailed explanation-4: -Plants absorb water and minerals from the soil via their roots. The root hairs on roots increase the surface area of roots to facilitate absorption of water and minerals that are dissolved in the soil water. The xylem then conducts the absorbed water and minerals from the roots to the shoot system.

Detailed explanation-5: -Plants absorb minerals in ionic form: nitrate (NO3−), phosphate (HPO4−) and potassium ions (K+); all have difficulty crossing a charged plasma membrane. It has long been known plants expend energy to actively take up and concentrate mineral ions.