Biology

Minerals and Nutrients

936 Questions

Review essential biology concepts regarding minerals and nutrients in this question bank. It covers trace elements required by plants and minerals crucial for human blood and bone formation. These facts frequently appear in general science exams.

Essential plant micronutrientsChlorophyll synthesis elementsHuman blood and bone mineralsTrace elements in physiology

Minerals and Nutrients Questions

Multiple choice

Iron is considered as a vital part of a balanced diet because

  1. it is needed by the bones

  2. it is needed by the nerves

  3. it is needed by the brain

  4. it is needed by the blood
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Iron is an important component of haemoglobin, the red pigment which combines with oxygen in the red blood cells. So,it is needed by the blood.

Multiple choice

Minerals are taken by plants as ______________.

  1. nitrates

  2. phosphates

  3. both (1) and (2)

  4. none of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Plants absorb minerals from soil in ionic forms, primarily as nitrates (for nitrogen) and phosphates (for phosphorus). These are dissolved in soil water and enter through root hairs along with water uptake. Neither nitrates nor phosphates alone covers all mineral requirements.

Multiple choice

Absence of magnesium from plant tissue results in

  1. etiolation

  2. hydrolysis

  3. chlorosis

  4. necrosis
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Magnesium ion is present in the center of a chlorophyll molecule. Its deficiency causes the yellowing or whitening of normal green plant tissue which is known as chlorosis. 

Multiple choice

Active mineral absorption depends on

  1. expenditure of energy

  2. ions moving freely

  3. ions moving passively

  4. ions moving actively
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 Active mineral absorption depends on expenditure of energy.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a macronutrient?

  1. Ca

  2. Mo

  3. Zn

  4. Mn
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Calcium is a macronutrient. It is an essential part of the plant cell wall and helps in the transport and retention of other elements.

Multiple choice

Which of the following micronutrients can be absorbed by foliage?

  1. Zinc

  2. Iron

  3. Phosphorus

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Zinc can be absorbed by foliage. Zinc deficiencies can affect plant by stunting its growth, decreasing number of tillers, chlorosis and smaller leaves, increasing crop maturity period, spikelet sterility and inferior quality of harvested products.

Multiple choice

EDTA is commonly used in tissue culture media. It is

  1. a vitamin necessary for the increased growth of cells

  2. a hormone required to trigger cell division

  3. an enzyme to help in the absorption of nutritive substances

  4. a chelating agent used to keep the important elements in suspension
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

When working with plant tissue culture, we use EDTA as a chelating agent in order to keep magnesium and other elements in suspension, so that the plant tissue can easily absorb them (EDTA is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid).

Multiple choice

Which of the following metals is present in chlorophyll?

  1. Beryllium

  2. Magnesium

  3. Calcium

  4. Barium
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Magnesium is the central metal atom in the chlorophyll molecule, essential for photosynthesis. The magnesium ion (Mg2+) sits at the center of the porphyrin ring structure. Beryllium, calcium, and barium are not part of chlorophyll structure, though calcium plays roles in other plant processes like cell wall stability.