Question
Which of these is NOT REQUIRED for healthy plants? other three are ESSENTIAL) Carbon monoxide Oxygen Water Chlorophyll
Answer
4.3
(242 Votes)
Lexi
Elite · Tutor for 8 years
Answer
Carbon monoxide
Explanation
This question is examining the knowledge of the basic requirements for plant health and growth. Plants, being sessile organisms, have several physical and physiological requirements which play significant roles during their life processes. These include sunlight, water, nutrients, and gases such as carbon dioxide and oxygen needed for photosynthesis and respiration respectively. CO2 is utilized by plants for photosynthesis to produce energy-rich glucose, which serves as the plant's food. Oxygen is undesired during the day because it competes with CO2 the site of the enzyme Rubisco, slowing photosynthesis. However, it is essential for plant survival diurnally and especially during the night. Water's importance in a plant's life cycle can't be understated since it's acting not only as a solvent but crucial for the electron transport system in photosynthesis and for transporting nutrients throughout the plant. Chlorophyll, on the other hand, is the pigment molecule necessary to absorb light and initiate photosynthesis. It's quite essential for the survival of autotrophic organisms. Contrastingly, Carbon Monoxide (CO) is well known to be hazardous. It has a higher affinity for the hemoglobin molecule compared to oxygen, tied because of incomplete combustion that harmfully impacts their respiratory system.