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Since most soil minerals are charged ions that are less concentrated in soil than in the root, how do plants take up most of these minerals?
ABy passive diffusion down a gradient
BBy simple osmosis through membranes
CBy imbibition into dry cell walls
DBy active absorption using ATP energy
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. By active absorption using ATP energy
1. Soil minerals exist as charged ions, which cannot freely slip across the cell membrane.
2. The mineral concentration in soil is usually lower than inside the root, so uptake is uphill.
3. Option A (passive diffusion) only moves substances downhill, so it cannot pull ions in against the gradient.
4. Option B (simple osmosis) moves water, not charged mineral ions, so it is the wrong trap.
5. Option C (imbibition) is mere swelling of dry walls and moves no ions at all.
6. Uphill ion uptake needs energy, supplied as ATP, which is active absorption.
7. So the answer is option D.
_Source: Samacheer Kalvi (TN SCERT) Class 10 Science, Unit 14 Transportation in Plants and Circulation in Animals "Uptake of Minerals", p.210_
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