8.3.1

Transpiration

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Transpiration

Transpiration is the evaporation of water vapour from the leaves of plants. This is what drives water to be drawn up from the roots, up the stem, to the leaves.

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Root hair cells

  • Root hair cells absorb water from the soil via osmosis (movement of water from a dilute solution to a more concentrated solution).
  • Mineral ions are taken up by active transport (movement of ions and molecules across a cell membrane to an area of higher concentration).
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Xylem

  • After being absorbed by the root hair cells, the water and minerals are transported in xylem vessels.
  • Water molecules in the xylem stick together by cohesion, drawing water up the stem.
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Leaves

  • Once it reaches the leaves, most of the water evaporates from the surfaces of leaf mesophyll cells into the air spaces between cells.
  • This water vapour then diffuses out of the stomata (pores in leaves).

Jump to other topics

1Classification of Living Organisms

2Organisation of the Organism

3Movement Into & Out of Cells

4Biological Molecules

5Enzymes

6Plant Nutrition

7Human Nutrition

8Transport in Plants

9Transport in Animals

10Diseases & Immunity

11Gas Exchange in Humans

12Respiration

13Excretion in Humans

14Coordination & Response

15Drugs

16Reproduction

17Inheritance

18Variation & Selection

19Organisms & Their Environment

20Human Influence on Ecosystems

21Biotechnology & Genetic Modification

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