Question

Air supports life. Give reasons.

Answer 1

Air supports life, some of the important gases in supporting life.

• Air is necessary for the survival of all living beings plants and animals living on land breathe in (inhale) oxygen from the air for respiration.
• In animals, the oxygen from inhaled air reaches the lungs. Where it gets exchanged with carbon dioxide present in the blood. This oxygen burns the food and releases energy.
• Animals and human beings exhale carbon dioxide during respiration. Aquatic animals and plants utilize the oxygen dissolved in water for respiration.
• Plants need nitrogen (78% in air) for their proper growth and development. But plants cant take nitrogen directly from the air. Lightning and rain bring nitrogen to the soil in the form of molecules such as nitrites and nitrates. Plants then absorb this nitrogen through these roots along with water.
• We know proteins form an essential part of our diet. Nitrogen is an important constituent of proteins. Animals, on the other hand, take nitrogen in the form of food.
• Carbon dioxide is also an essential gas for life. Plants take carbon dioxide present in the air and convert it into carbohydrates by using sunlight and water. This process is called photosynthesis. Carbohydrates produced by plants are consumed by carnivore animals.
• Air helps in the dispersal of pollen grains and seeds, and thereby, in the multiplication and survival of life.
• Air plays an important role in the water cycle. Water evaporates from the water bodies in the form of water vapors in the air and is restored back in the form of rain.
• Oxygen, a constituent of air, is essential for the burning of fuel. Air is essential for the movement of airplanes, helicopters, parachutes, yachts, and sailboats.