Nitrogen Flashcards
What is nitrogen?
A very important plant nutrient
What is nitrogen used for in plant cells?
Nitrogen used to build chemicals called amino acids
Protein molecules are used to build new cells as the plant grows
How does nitrogen enter a plant?
Plants collect nitrogen from the soil in the form of nitrates which are dissolved in the soil water
Root hair cells increases the surface area of the roots to absorb water more efficiently by osmosis
What is osmosis?
Process of cells losing or gaining water, depending on water conservation
What can legumes do?
Absorb nitrogen directly from the air with the help of bacteria that live in their roots
Legume examples
Peas, beans, clover
How do animals obtain their protein?
Animals can only collect nitrogen by consuming protein found in plants or other animals
Proteins move along the food chain in this way
What type of protein do herbivores eat?
Plant protein
What type of protein do carnivores eat?
Animal protein
