JAMB 2019 Biology · Question 27
Raw materials required by green plants to manufacture their food are
Options
- A.mainly fluids
- B.inorganic substances
- C.living materials
- D.mainly gases
Answer: B. inorganic substances
Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key
Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks about the raw materials green plants use in photosynthesis, which is how they make their food.
Step 2: Explain the concept Green plants are autotrophs. They build their own food (glucose) from simple raw materials:
- Carbon dioxide (CO₂), taken from the air through the stomata
- Water (H₂O), taken from the soil through the roots
- Light energy and chlorophyll, which are needed for the process but are not raw materials
The equation is:
6CO₂ + 6H₂O → (light, chlorophyll) → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
Step 3: Evaluate the options
- A. Mainly fluids: Water is a liquid, but CO₂ is a gas, so this is not accurate.
- B. Inorganic substances: CO₂ and water are both simple inorganic compounds, so this is correct. Plants convert these into organic food (glucose).
- C. Living materials: Wrong. The raw materials are non-living.
- D. Mainly gases: Only CO₂ is a gas. Water is a liquid, so "mainly gases" does not fit well.
Step 4: Answer The best answer is B. Inorganic substances, because both raw materials (carbon dioxide and water) are inorganic.
Tip: Remember the contrast: plants make organic food from inorganic raw materials. Animals (heterotrophs) depend on ready-made organic food. When you see "raw materials" for photosynthesis, think "inorganic."
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