question_answer 7)

How are the minerals absorbed by the plants? 

Answer:

Mechanism of Absorption of Minerals The process of absorption can occur into two main phases. (i) In the first phase, an initial rapid uptake of ions into the 'free space' or 'outer space' of cells the apoplast, is passive. (ii) In the second phase of uptake, the ions are taken in slowly into the 'inner space' the symplast of the cells. The passive movement of ions into the apoplast usually occurs through ion-channels, the frans-membrane proteins that function as selective pores. On the other hand, the entry or exit of ions to and from the symplast requires the expenditure of metabolic energys. The movement of ions is usually called the inward movement into the cells is influx and the outward movement, efflux.