Question

Passive absorption of minerals depends on

• A. temperature
• B. temperature and metabolic inhibitor
• C. metabolic inhibitor
• D. humidity.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To understand passive absorption of minerals in plants, it's important to first grasp what passive absorption entails. Passive absorption refers to the movement of minerals from the soil into the plant roots without the expenditure of energy. This process relies on concentration gradients and is largely driven by physical processes like diffusion and osmosis.

The options provided are:

• Temperature
• Temperature and metabolic inhibitor
• Metabolic inhibitor
• Humidity

Let's analyze each option to understand its influence on passive absorption:

1. Temperature: Temperature can influence the rate of passive absorption because it affects the physical processes like diffusion and osmosis. Higher temperatures generally increase the kinetic energy of molecules, leading to faster diffusion rates, enhancing the passive uptake of minerals.
2. Temperature and metabolic inhibitor: While temperature plays a role in passive absorption, metabolic inhibitors are related to active processes. They would affect active transport mechanisms rather than passive ones. Therefore, this combination doesn't directly affect passive absorption.
3. Metabolic inhibitor: Metabolic inhibitors interfere with processes that require energy, specifically active transport. Since passive absorption is energy-independent, this option is irrelevant to passive absorption.
4. Humidity: Humidity primarily affects transpiration rates and water uptake but doesn't directly influence the passive transportation of minerals into the roots.

Conclusion: The best answer is "temperature" as it can directly influence the mechanisms (diffusion and osmosis) involved in passive absorption without involving metabolic energy. Therefore, the correct answer is that passive absorption of minerals depends on temperature.