Topic 1: Nutrients Flashcards
Percentage of foods we need (Canada food guide)
Vegtables and fruit (%50)
Protein (%25)
Whole grains (%25)
Difference between organic and inorganic nutrients
- Organic nutrients can be broken down over time. They contain carbon and are mostly produced by plants
- Inorganic nutrients (AKA Minerals) are materials that are not destroyed by cooking/exposure to air
Difference bewteen enzymes and vitamins
- Enzymes: Speical protein molecules that regulate chemical reactions in living things
- Vitamins: Large molecules that help the enzymes function (Body does not make them)
What is an organic compound?
Compound that contains carbon
How do plants obtains minerals found in the soil?
- Plants can extract nutrients through roots
- Roots are covered in tiny hairs that increase surface area
How much air is nitrogen?
78%
What is nitrogen fixation?
When nitrogen is changed into “free nitrogen” so N atoms can combine with other elements and bceome usable
How to animals get nitrogen?
They eat plants with nitrogen compounds
Why do animals need nitrogen?
Their bodies use the nitrogen to create proteins
What do the numbers on a bag of fertilizer mean?
Nitrogen, Phospurous, Potassium
(NPK, can be remembered as the New Penguin King)
What do Nitrogen, Phosupourus and potassium do for plants?
Nitrogen: Growth of leaves/stem
Phosphorus: Growth of roots/flowers
Potassium: Early growth + protection from disease
Macronutrients vs Micronutrients
Macro: We need lots of these
Micro: We need a little of these
What are the roles of Carbohydrates, proteins, liptids/fats
Carbohydrates: Energy source for metabolism
Proteins: Structural moleculesd, chemical reations, and building
Liptids: Storage for unused chemical energy
What are the roles of nitrogen, phosphurus and potassium in plants
- Nitrogen - growth of leaves and stems
- Phosphorus - Growth of roots and flowers
- Potassium - Early growth, disease protection
