GRADE 08 ENGLISH MEDIUM SCIENCE NIMESH DISSANAYAKE

Main biological processes in plants

 Plants are the main living things that keep the

environment ,healthy and stable.
 They perform important life processes to grow
and thrive

Photosynthesis

 Plants are autotrophic; which means they can produce their own food.
 Leaf is the main organ, which produce food.
Factors necessary for photosynthesis

1. Carbon dioxide: Enters leaves through holes on the surface called

stomata. Plants take in CO2 from the air around them.
2. Water: Roots absorb water from soil. Then, xylem tubes transport the
water up to the leaves.
3. Chlorophyll: Green pigment inside plant cells. It absorbs sunlight that
powers photosynthesis.
4. Light Energy: Chloroplasts capture light energy from the sunlight
hitting leaf surfaces. This light gets used to fuel food production

1
GRADE 08 ENGLISH MEDIUM SCIENCE NIMESH DISSANAYAKE

Here is an explanation of photosynthesis

Where it happens:
Photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts - tiny structures found inside plant cells.
Chloroplasts contain the green chlorophyll that absorbs sunlight.

What happens:
Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide, water, and light energy to produce glucose sugar
and oxygen gas. The steps are:

Ingredients:
Products:

 Carbon Dioxide (from air)

 Glucose Sugar
 Water (from roots)
 Oxygen Gas
 Light Energy (from sun)
 Chlorophyll (in chloroplasts)

The glucose sugar is converted to starch, then sucrose to transport to the whole
plant. The oxygen gas is released through the leaves into the air.

2
GRADE 08 ENGLISH MEDIUM SCIENCE NIMESH DISSANAYAKE

Photosynthesis Cellular Respiration

Ingredients: Carbon dioxide, water, sunlight. Ingredients: Glucose (from food) and
Products: Glucose (food/energy) and oxygen oxygen (from plants)
are made. Oxygen is released out Products: Energy and CO2 are made as
byproducts. CO2 is released out.

3
GRADE 08 ENGLISH MEDIUM SCIENCE NIMESH DISSANAYAKE

EXPERIMENT NO 01

Experiment to Show Photosynthesis Produces Starch

Materials:
• Sunlight-exposed leaves (sunflower, chili )
• Hot water
• Alcohol
• Boiling tubes
• Iodine solution
• Forceps
Steps:
1. Boil leaves in hot water, then in alcohol to remove green color.
2. Rinse leaves. Put 1-2 drops of iodine on leaves.
Observations:
• Leaves turn dark blue when iodine is added
Why:
• Iodine turns starch dark blue. Leaves made starch through photosynthesis.

Conclusion: Exposing leaves to sun gave them energy to perform photosynthesis. Tests
show the leaves produced starch sugar from photosynthesis when given sunlight.

4
GRADE 08 ENGLISH MEDIUM SCIENCE NIMESH DISSANAYAKE

EXPERIMENT NO 02

Experiment to Show Oxygen is Produced in

Photosynthesis

Materials:
• Aquatic plants
• Funnel
• Trough of water
• Boiling tube
• Glowing wooden splinte

Steps:

 Put aquatic plants in a jar of water. Cover jar with a funnel leading to an upside
down boiling tube trapping air.
 Expose to sunlight. Look for air bubbles from the plants collecting in the tube.
 Carefully remove the test tube keeping the opening upwards. Insert a glowing
splinter.
Observations:

 Bubbles seen rising from the plants

 The glowing splinter reheats and bursts into flames
Why:

The bubbles contain oxygen released by plants during photosynthesis

Oxygen causes the reheating and bursting into flame
Conclusion:
This shows oxygen gas is produced when plants perform photosynthesis. The
glowing splinter test confirms the gas released is oxygen

5
GRADE 08 ENGLISH MEDIUM SCIENCE NIMESH DISSANAYAKE

Why Photosynthesis is so Important So in summary, photosynthesis is a huge

global cycle that:
Absorbs Carbon Dioxide
 Captures warming CO2 out of the air
Takes in CO2 that causes global warming
 Provides oxygen for breathing
Adds Oxygen  And limits carbon dioxide increase
Releases O2 gas that all animals breathe This makes photosynthesis one of the most
important processes on Earth
Controls Carbon Dioxide Increase
Uses CO2 for plant food production
Minimizes CO2 buildup in air

!
Transportation

Plants transport three important things: water, nutrients, and food.

Water Transportation:

Water gets absorbed from the soil through the roots.

It travels up the stem through pipe-like tubes called xylem.

Nutrient Transportation:

Roots also soak up nutrients like minerals from soil.

These nutrients travel up through the xylem too.

Food Transportation:

Leaves make food in a process called photosynthesis.

The food travels back down through tubes called phloem.

Transportation of atmospheric air

Transport Through the stomata to the cells of the leaves

6
GRADE 08 ENGLISH MEDIUM SCIENCE NIMESH DISSANAYAKE

Diffusion

When a cube of potassium permanganate is put in water, its particles diffuse and
spread randomly from an area of high concentration (near the cube) to an area of
low concentration.

Diffusion of particles occurs both in liquid solutions (as seen with potassium
permanganate in water) and in air (gases).
Examples in gases:
 Peeling an orange releases volatile compounds that diffuse through air and
can be smelled from a distance.
 Diffusion carries scent particles through air from joss sticks and perfumes.

The process in which a movement of a substance from an area of higher

concentration to an area of lower concentration is called diffusion.

7
GRADE 08 ENGLISH MEDIUM SCIENCE NIMESH DISSANAYAKE

Diffusion in Plants
Plants need to move gases in and out. Diffusion helps them do this through tiny holes
called stomata.
What diffuses in?
• Carbon dioxide from air. This is used for photosynthesis to make food.
• Oxygen for respiration. This gives plants energy.
What diffuses out?
• Oxygen. This is a waste product of photosynthesis.
• Carbon dioxide and water vapor. These are waste products of respiration.

Osmosis

Diffusion of water molecules through a semipermeable membrane from an

area of higher water concentration to an area of lower water concentration is
known as osmosis.

8
GRADE 08 ENGLISH MEDIUM SCIENCE NIMESH DISSANAYAKE

EXPERIMENT NO 03

Beaker (high concentration )--> Cellophane membrane --> Thistle tube (low concentration )

Cellophane is a semipermeable membrane. This means that it only allows

certain molecules to pass through. In this case, cellophane only allows water
molecules to pass through. It prevents the salt and condis molecules from
passing through.

 Many minerals are dissolved in soil water. The root hairs of plants absorb these water
particles by osmosis.
 From root hair up to the xylem, water particles move from cell to cell by osmosis.
 The cell membrane inside the cell wall act as a semipermeable
membrane.

9
GRADE 08 ENGLISH MEDIUM SCIENCE NIMESH DISSANAYAKE

Here is a simplified categorization of plant transportation methods:

Water Movement
Osmosis: Root hairs absorb water from soil through osmosis. This does not
require energy. Water moves through a special membrane.
Mineral Movement
Active Transport:
Absorbing minerals does require energy. Mineral particles are actively
transported against the concentration gradient.
Food Movement
Mass Flow: Sugars and other food from leaves moves through phloem tissue
to other parts of plant. This mass flow transports a stream of food particles
all together.

In summary:

Osmosis: absorbs water without energy

Active transport: absorbs minerals using energy
Mass flow: transports sugary food made in leaves

Transpiration

The process of evaporation of water through the aerial parts of a plant is

termed as transpiration

10
GRADE 08 ENGLISH MEDIUM SCIENCE NIMESH DISSANAYAKE

Transpiration Functions

Pulls up water and nutrients from roots

Transpiration creates a pulling action that sucks up water and minerals through the plant.
Cools the plant
Evaporating water draws heat away and keeps plant from overheating.
Aids in water cycle
Water vapor released contributes to overall water cycle in environment.

What Influences Rate of Transpiration?

Heat
Wind
Sunlight
Dryness

Too much transpiration can dry out plant. Plants have adaptations to conserve water:

Some examples: thick waxy leaves, leaves that fold under, growing hair to shade surface

 Thick epidermis in aerial parts e.g. - Temple trees

 Leaves reduced to spines e.g. - Cactus
 Leaves turned to scale leaves e.g. - 'Kasa'/ 'Savukku'
 Reducing the size of leaves e.g. - 'Navahandi'/ 'Kally'
 Hairs on epidermis e.g. - Sun flower, Pumpkin
 Sunk stomata e.g. - Oleander
 Leaves fall during the dry season e.g. - Rubber, Teak
 Fleshy leaves e.g. - Aloe
 Rolled leaves during dry seasons e.g. - 'Maha ravana reula'/ 'Ravanan
meesai'

11
GRADE 08 ENGLISH MEDIUM SCIENCE NIMESH DISSANAYAKE

Guttation

What is Guttation?

Guttation is when water drops come out of the tips or edges of leaves. This often happens
overnight when humidity is high.
How Does it Happen?

At night, transpiration slows and moisture can build up inside leaves.

Special leaf openings called hydathodes allow excess water to ooze out.

What Plants Guttate?

Examples: anthurium, grass, potato, tomato

Key ideas:
Guttation removes excess water from inside plant leaves
It occurs through hydathodes when transpiration is low
The discharged liquid contains salts that can damage leaf tips

12