Question

Choose the correct set of answers from the options given below.
I. Minerals present in the soil are charged.
II. The concentration of minerals in the root is usually lower than the concentration of minerals in the soil.
III. Most minerals utilizes energy to enter the cytoplasm of epidermal cells.
IV. Majority of the mineral uptake takes place through passive transport.

• A. I and II
• B. II and IV
• C. I and III
• D. II and III

Answer 1

The correct option is C I and III

Majority of mineral uptake is through active transport. Root hairs present in the roots help them in absorbing the minerals from the soil. Thus there is usually a higher concentration of minerals inside the root when compared to the soil. This implies that uptake of mineral ions by the roots is against the concentration gradient. Hence there is utilization of energy in the form of ATP.

Minerals in soil are present as charged particles also known as ions. They cannot move across membrane freely. They generally do so with the help of specialised protein transporters present in the membrane.

Some mineral ions can be easily transported across the membrane through passive transport. Here, there is no utilization of ATP since the minerals are being transported along the concentration gradient. This however contributes to a small percentage of mineral uptake.