1. Why water potential values are negative?
2. Why turgidity is so important for plant cell?
1. Water potential values are negative because they are relative to the potential of pure water. The water potential of pure water is defined as zero, indicating its maximum potential to move across a membrane. When solutes are added to water, they decrease its potential to move, resulting in negative values. These negative values indicate a decrease in free energy and a reduced ability of water to move freely.
To understand why water potential values are negative, you can follow these steps:
1. Start by considering the potential of pure water, which is defined as zero.
2. Recognize that adding solutes to water decreases its potential to move and increases the tendency for water to move in the direction of lower potential.
3. Understand that the decrease in potential is represented by negative values, indicating a reduction in free energy and the decreased ability of water to move freely.
2. Turgidity is crucial for plant cells because it helps maintain the structural integrity of the cells and provides necessary support for the plants. Turgor pressure, which is the outward pressure exerted by the cell contents against the cell wall, is responsible for turgidity. When a plant cell is fully turgid, it is firm and rigid, allowing it to effectively support leaves, stems, and other plant structures.
To understand why turgidity is important for plant cells, you can follow these steps:
1. Recognize that turgidity refers to the state of plant cells when they are fully swollen due to the inward flow of water.
2. Understand that turgor pressure, exerted by the cell contents against the cell wall, gives the cell its firmness and rigidity.
3. Realize that turgid cells are essential for maintaining the structural integrity of the plant and providing support for various plant structures like leaves and stems. Without turgidity, plants can wilt and become structurally weak, compromising their ability to perform vital functions like photosynthesis.