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

80 per cent of a cell is constituted by

  1. minerals

  2. water

  3. proteins

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

Water is the primary component of all living cells, typically accounting for 70% to 90% of their total mass. It serves as a universal solvent for biochemical reactions and provides structural turgidity to the cell.

Multiple choice

Iron is mainly absorbed in

  1. ferrous ion form

  2. ferric ion form

  3. Both (1) and (2)

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

Plants primarily absorb iron from the soil in the form of ferric ions (Fe3+). While some plants can reduce it to the ferrous form (Fe2+) for easier uptake or metabolic use, the ferric form is the standard state for absorption in most soil conditions.

Multiple choice

Plants require the two metallic compounds for chlorophyll synthesis viz.

  1. Fe and Mg

  2. Cu and Ca

  3. Ca and K

  4. Mg and Ca
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Magnesium is the central metallic atom in the chlorophyll molecule, making it structurally essential. Iron is not part of the chlorophyll structure itself but is a critical cofactor for the enzymes that catalyze its biosynthesis.

Multiple choice

The most important use of potassium is that

  1. it regulates many plant processes

  2. it provides red colour to the fruit

  3. it helps in photosynthesis

  4. it influences enzyme activity, which regulates many plant processes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Potassium is essential for plant health because it activates numerous enzymes that regulate metabolic processes like protein synthesis and photosynthesis. It also maintains cell turgor and regulates the opening and closing of stomata.

Multiple choice

Micronutrients

  1. are called micro because they play only a minor role in plant nutrition

  2. may be omitted from culture media without any detrimental effect on the plants

  3. are as important in nutrition as the macronutrients

  4. are more important in nutrition than macronutrients
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Micronutrients are required by plants in very small quantities, but they are just as essential for growth and reproduction as macronutrients. A deficiency in a micronutrient can lead to severe physiological disorders or death.

Multiple choice

For plant growth, the most important compounds are made up of

  1. carbon

  2. nitrogen

  3. sodium

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

Nitrogen is an essential component for plant growth. Nitrogen deficiency most often results in stunted growth, slow growth, and chlorosis. Nitrogen deficient plants will also exhibit a purple appearance on the stems, petioles and underside of leaves from an accumulation of anthocyanin pigements.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not an essential micronutrient for plants?

  1. Zinc

  2. Copper

  3. Boron

  4. Sodium
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Essential plant nutrients are categorized as macronutrients and micronutrients. Zinc, Copper, and Boron are recognized essential micronutrients, whereas Sodium is generally considered a beneficial element rather than an essential one for most plants.

Multiple choice

Which is the chief source of iodine?

  1. Brown algae

  2. Bilging vagus

  3. Chilsa nelia

  4. Mycoplasma

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Brown algae, such as kelp, are the primary natural source of iodine, which they concentrate from seawater. Iodine was historically produced commercially from the ash of burned seaweed. This makes marine algae a critical source for this essential element.

Multiple choice

Hemoglobin Contains

  1. Copper

  2. Iron

  3. Magnesium

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

Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. It contains iron atoms, which bind to oxygen molecules and give blood its red color.