Question

Select the nutrient that is obtained from the air by plants.
A) Potassium
B) Oxygen
C) Nitrogen
D) Phosphorus

Answer 1

Metabolism is necessary in all organisms. Respiration is a biochemical process that occurs within the cells of organisms. In the process of respiration, the nutrient is taken in by the plants through air. In this process Adenosine triphosphate is produced by the breakdown of glucose which is further used by cells to perform various functions.

Complete answer:
Nutrients are required by the plant for its growth and development. Some of the nutrients will be required in large quantities and are called macro nutrients and some will be required in small quantities and are called micronutrients.

Hydrogen and oxygen are two examples of macronutrients. These compounds when combined form water. Unlike humans and animals, plants do not have any specialized structures for exchange of gases but the presence of stomata which are present in the leaves and lenticels which are found in stem are actively involved in the exchange of gases. Plants obtain the needed oxygen from the air through the stomata and use it to store energy in the form of ATP. Oxygen is also a vital component of cellular respiration.

Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are examples of macronutrients. Nitrogen is the nutrient required by plants in the largest amounts as it is required by all parts of a plant, mainly the meristematic tissues and the metabolically active cells. It is taken in the form of nitrate ions from the soil. It is the major component of proteins, vitamins, hormones and nucleic acids etc.

Phosphorus: It is absorbed in the form of phosphate ions through the roots. It is a vital component of cell membranes, proteins, and nucleic acids and is required for certain important reactions like phosphorylation reactions.

Potassium: It is a mineral that is absorbed through roots and is required in the growing parts of the plants like meristematic tissues, buds, leaves and root tips in large amounts. It is also required for the opening and closing of stomata, protein synthesis etc. It helps in the activation of enzymes and helps in maintaining cation-anion balance and turgidity of cells.

Hence from the above explaination it is clear that ‘Oxygen’ is the nutrient that is obtained from air by plants.

Therefore the correct answer is option ‘B’.

Note: The byproduct of cellular respiration is carbon dioxide. During the daytime, this carbon dioxide is utilised for the process of photosynthesis. But during the night, the plants breathe in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide as photosynthesis does not take place at night.