Chapter 1

How plants grow

Prepared and presented by:

Mr.Leong Foong Chang
 Learning Objectives

1. To describe the importance of plants to life on

Earth.

2. To describe how water and minerals are absorbed

by roots and transported to leaves.
A test for starch
1. Remove a small
piece of leaf
2. Place into a bath
of boiling water for 1
minute to break
down cell walls and
make the cells leaky
3. Put the dead leaf into
alcohol and heat in hot
Page 11
water up to 5 minutes
to remove the colour
(To decolourise)

4. Dip the white

7. A blue /black leaf into hot water
colour means to soften the leaf
starch is present; a (To remove the
brown colour alcohol)
6. Add iodine
means no starch
solution and
observe the colour
after a minute 5. Spread on to a
white tile or dish
A test for starch Page 11
Testing a leaf for starch
Objective
To identify food substance produced in plants
Significant in photosynthesis
steps Reasons
To break down cell wall because it
To kill the leaf cells in boiling water. will not allow the iodine into the
cells.

To remove the green pigment,

To treat the leaf with alcohol.
chlorophyll.

The leaf treated with alcohol in the Alcohol is highly flammable,

boiling water. can't place near any flame.
A test for starch Page 11
Testing a leaf for starch
Observation Results

The plant carries out

The leaf shows black/blue colour photosynthesis process, and
starch is the product of the
process.

The plant does not carry out

The leaf shows brown colour
photosynthesis process.
A test for starch Page 11

1. The alcohol (ethanol) removed the chlorophyll from the leaf. Why
was this step necessary?

Answer: it is easy to see the change in colour.

A test for starch Page 11

2. Why does the ethanol continue to boil, even though the Bunsen
burner is turned off?

Answer: The boiling point of ethanol is lower than boiling water.

Destarching plant Page 13

Destarching a plant

Procedure

The plant is left in darkness for 2-3 days

Outcome

The leaves covered with black paper

strip are starch-free

Conclusion

Light is needed for starch to form in a leaf

Investigating the effect of carbon Page 13
dioxide on starch production
Investigating the effect of carbon Page 13
dioxide on starch production
Effect of carbon dioxide on
starch production

Soda lime Sodium

hydrogencarbonate
solution
Function
Function
To absorb carbon dioxide from To release carbon dioxide into
the air the air
Effect Effect
The concentration of carbon The concentration of carbon
dioxide in the air become dioxide in the air become
reduced. increased.
Investigating the effect of carbon Page 13
dioxide on starch production
Effect of carbon dioxide on
starch production

Soda lime Sodium

hydrogencarbonate
solution
Results
Results
The leaf does not contains
starch The leaf contain starch

Conclusion

Carbon dioxide is needed for starch production.

Investigating oxygen production Page 13
in plants
Investigating oxygen production Page 14
in plants Investigating oxygen production by plants
Objective
To investigate the gases produced by plants
Surrounding environments

Sunlight In dark

One week observation

Bubbles of gas were produced No bubbles of gas were
produced
To test
The gas was tested with a glowing
splint, the splint re-lighted.
The plants produce oxygen in
Conclusion
the light.
Energy transfer in photosynthesis Page 15

Energy transfer diagram

Light energy Chlorophyll Chemical energy

The energy converter starch

or transducer
Energy transfer in photosynthesis Page 15
Biomass Page 16
Biomass
Types

Wet biomass Dry biomass

Definition

The mass of a living thing

The mass of a living thing
after it has been killed and
when it is alive.
dried out.
Minerals Page 16
Mineral salts
Function

Minerals are needed by plants for growth and development.

Examples

Potassium phosphate Calcium nitrate

The cell structure of a leaf Page 20
The cell structure of a leaf Page 20

Xylem

Phloem carries food

away.
The cell structure of a leaf Page 20

(carbon dioxide IN)

(oxygen OUT)
stoma
(light energy
IN)
guard
cells
margin

palisade
layer
spongy
layer
(water IN) xylem
phloem (glucose OUT)

vein (vascular bundle)

The transport of water Page 16
through a plant Water transport in root
Plant
structure
Root
Root hairs greatly increase the surface area of root.

Effect

Large quantities of water can pass through the root.

Type of nutrients

Water Dissolved mineral salts

Transport
methods
The plant does not The plant uses energy
use energy to take the provided by respiration to
water in. take them in.
The transport of water Page 16
through a plant

use energy
mineral salts

water

does not
use energy
The transport of water Page 16
through a plant Water transport from root to stem
Method
Root
The power of the root pushes up water to the stem.

To prove

1. A low branch on a plant 2. A glass tube is attached to

is removed. the cut and a small amount of
water is added to the tube.
Observation

Water ooze from the cut. The water level rises a little.
The transport of water Page 16
through a plant
The transport of water Page 16
through a plant Water transport in a stem

Plant structure
Stem
Xylem vessels are hollow tubes. They run through the stem
connecting the veins in the leaves to the roots.

Method
The flow of water through a stem is called transpiration.

Reason for transpiration

Water evaporates and escapes through stomata.

Effect of transpiration
The plant experiences short of water and the transpiration pull
causes more water travels along the xylem vessels to replace it.
The transport of water Page 16
through a plant Water transport in a stem
To prove
Stem
Place a clear plastic bag around the shoot of a pot plant.
Observation
There is liquid in the bag.
To test

Blue cobalt chloride paper turns pink.

Outcome
The liquid is water.
The transport of water Page 16
through a plant
The transport of water Page 16
through a plant
The transport of water Page 16
through a plant
The transport of water Page 16
through a plant
Rate of transpiration

Faster Slower
Factors

Strong wind High

humidity

Light is
bright
Controlling the flow of Page 16
water Stomata
Structure
Leaf
Each stoma is surrounded by two guard cells.

Stomata state
Closed Open
Reasons
At night, leaves don’t There is excess water,
need take carbon dioxide allowing the water to
in for photosynthesis. escape from the leaves.

A leaf is short of water

during the day.
Controlling the flow of Page 16
water