Minerals in Plants (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award)): Revision Note

Minerals in Plants: Extended

Extended Tier Only

• Photosynthesis produces glucose, which contains the chemical elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; these chemical elements come from carbon dioxide in the air and water in the soil

• While glucose contains all of the chemical elements needed for the production of some molecules, e.g. starch and lipids, other molecules require additional chemical elements, so plants need mineral ions from the soil to provide these elements, e.g.

  • Amino acids in proteins contain nitrogen so plants need nitrate ions

  • Chlorophyll contains magnesium so plants need magnesium ions

• Root hair cells are specially adapted to aid the absorption of mineral ions from the soil

• Plants that are deficient in minerals may show deficiency symptoms, e.g.

  • Nitrate deficiency can result in stunted growth due to a lack of protein production

  • Magnesium deficiency can lead to yellow leaves due to a lack of chlorophyll

Plant minerals table