CBSE Class 10 Science

NCERT Solution

Science Chapter 6 - Life Processes

In text Questions
Page Number: 95

Question 1:-Why is diffusion insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of

multicellular organisms like humans?
Answer:
In multicellular organisms like humans, all the body cells are not in direct contact with the
surrounding environment. Therefore, every cell of the body will not get oxygen as per need by the
process of diffusion from the environment. Therefore diffusion is insufficient to meet the oxygen
requirements of multicellular organisms.

Question 2:-What criteria do we use to decide whether something is alive?

Answer:
The main criteria used to decide whether something is alive are breathing and respiration. However,
living beings also show growth and movement.

Question 3:-What are outside raw materials used by an organism?

Answer:
Any organism uses organic molecules as raw material. Heterotrophs use food and autotrophs use
carbon dioxide, minerals, water and all organisms use oxygen (for respiration) as raw materials.

Question 4:-What processes would you consider essential for maintaining life?
Answer:
Processes essential for maintaining life are :
(i) Nutrition
(ii) Respiration
(iii) Transportation
(iv) Excretion

Page Number: 101

Question 1:-What are the differences between autotrophic nutrition and

heterotrophic nutrition?
Answer:
 Autotrophic nutrition Heterotrophic nutrition

(i) In this mode of nutrition an organism makes or (i) In this mode of nutrition an organism cannot

synthesizes its own food. make or synthesize its own food

Organisms use simple inorganic materials like carbon (ii) Organisms cannot make their own food from

dioxide and water and synthesise their food in presence simple inorganic matter and depend on other

of sunlight. organisms for their food.

(iii) All green plants and some algae undergo this mode (iii) All the animals, most bacteria and fungi undergo

of nutrition. this mode of nutrition.

Question 2:-Where do plants get each of the raw materials required for
photosynthesis?
Answer:
(i) Carbon dioxide : Plants get carbon dioxide from the environment/atmosphere through stomata.
(ii) Water : Plants absorb water from the soil through roots and transport to leaves.
(iii) Sunlight : Plants get sunlight from the sun.
(iv) Chlorophyll : It is present in chloroplast found in green leaves and green parts of plants.

Question 3:-What is the role of the acid in our stomach?

Answer:
Role of acid in our stomach is :
(i) To make acidic medium which is necessary for the activation of the enzyme pepsin.
(ii) To kill bacteria which the food may contain.

Question 4:-What is the function of digestive enzymes?

Answer:
The food we eat is complex in nature, i.e., it contains complex molecules. Digestive enzymes break
down these complex molecules into smaller simpler molecules so that they can be absorbed by the
walls of the intestine.

Question 5:-How is the small intestine designed to absorb digested food?

Answer:
The small intestine is designed to provide maximum area for absorption of digested food and its
transfer into the blood for its circulation into the body. For this the inner lining of the small intestine
has numerous finger-like projections called villi. The villi are richly supplied with blood vessels
which take the absorbed food to each and every cell of the body.

Page Number: 105

Question 1:-What advantage over an aquatic organism does a terrestrial

organism have with regard to obtaining oxygen for respiration?
Answer:
Aquatic organisms use oxygen dissolved in surrounding water. Since air dissolved in water has fairly
low concentration of oxygen, the aquatic organisms have much faster rate of breathing.
Terrestrial organisms take oxygen from the oxygen-rich atmosphere through respiratory organs.
Hence, they have much less breathing rate than aquatic organisms.

Question 2:-What are the different ways in which glucose is oxidised to provide
energy in various organisms?
Answer:
First step of breakdown of glucose (6 carbon molecules) takes place in the cytoplasm of cells of all
organisms. This process yields a three carbon molecule compound called pyruvate.
Further break down of pyruvate takes place in different ways in different organisms.

(i) Anaerobic respiration : The anaerobic respiration in plants (like yeast) produces ethanol and
carbon dioxide as end products.
(ii) Aerobic respiration : In aerobic respiration break down of pyruvate takes place in presence of
oxygen to give rise three molecules of carbon dioxide and water. The release of energy in aerobic
respiration is much more than in anaerobic respiration.
(iii) Lack of oxygen : Sometimes, when there is lack of oxygen especially during physical exercise,
in our muscles, pyruvate is converted into lactic acid (3 carbon molecule compound). Formation of
lactic acid in muscles causes cramp.

Question 3:-How is oxygen and carbon dioxide transported in human beings?

Answer:
(i) Transport of oxygen : Hemoglobin present in the blood takes up the oxygen from the air in the
lungs. It carries the oxygen to tissues which are deficient in oxygen before releasing it.
(ii) Transport of carbon dioxide: Carbon dioxide is more soluble in water. Therefore, it is mostly
transported from body tissues in the dissolved form in our blood plasma to lungs. Here it diffuses
from blood to air in the lungs.
Question 4:-How are the lungs designed in human beings to maximise the area
for exchange of gases?
Answer:
Within the lungs, the air passage divides into smaller and smaller tubes, called bronchi which in turn
form bronchioles. The bronchioles terminate in balloon-like structures, called alveoli. The alveoli
present in the lungs provide maximum surface for exchange of gases. The alveoli have very thin
walls and contain an extensive network of blood vessels to facilitate exchange of gases.

Page Number: 110

Question 1:-What are the components of the transport system in human beings?
What are the functions of these components?
Answer:
The transport system (circulatory system) in human beings mainly consists of heart, blood and blood
vessels.

(i) Function of heart: The heart receives deoxygenated blood from the body parts and pumps it to
lungs for enriching with oxygen. It receives purified blood from lungs and pumps it around the body.
(ii) Function of blood: Blood transports oxygen, carbon dioxide, digested food, hormones and
nitrogenous waste like urea. It also protects the body from diseases and regulates the body
temperature.
(iii) Function of blood vessels: The blood pushed by the heart flows through the blood vessels
(arteries, veins and capillaries) and also comes back to the heart through them.

Question 2:-Why is it necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood

in mammals and birds?
Answer:
Separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood allows good supply of oxygen to the body. This
system is useful in animals that have high energy requirement. Mammals and birds constantly need
oxygen to get energy to maintain their body temperature constant.

Question 3:-What are the components of the transport system in highly organised
plants?
Answer:
In highly organised plants there are two conducting tissues xylem and phloem.
Xylem consists of vessels, tracheids and other xylem tissues. The interconnected vessels and
tracheid’s form a continuous system of water conducting channels reaching all parts of the plant.
Xylem carries water and minerals.
Phloem conducts soluble products of photosynthesis from leaves to different parts of the plant body.

Question 4:-How are water and minerals transport in plants?

Answer:
The roots of a plant have hair called root hair.
The root hair are directly in contact with the film of water in between the soil particles. Water and
dissolved minerals get into the root hair by the process of diffusion. The water and minerals absorbed
by the root hair from the soil pass from cell to cell by osmosis through the epidermis, root cortex,
endodermis and reach the root xylem.
The xylem vessels of the root of the plant are connected to the xylem vessels of its stem.
Therefore the water containing dissolved minerals enters the root xylem vessels into stem xylem
vessels. The xylem vessels of the stem branch into the leaves of the plants. So, the water and
minerals carried by the xylem vessels in the stem reach the leaves through the branched xylem
vessels which enter from the petiole (stalk of the leaf) into each and every part of the leaf. Thus the
water and minerals from the soil reach through the root and stem to the leaves of the plants.
Evaporation of water molecules from the cells of a leaf creates a suction which pulls water from the
xylem cells of roots. The loss of water in the form of vapor from the aerial parts of the plant is
known as transpiration.

Question 5:-How is food transported in plants?

Answer:

The movement of food in phloem (or translocation) takes place by utilizing energy. The sugar (food)
made in leaves is loaded into the sieve tubes of phloem tissue by using energy from ATR Water now
enters the sieve tubes containing sugar by the process of osmosis due to which the pressure in the
phloem tissue rises. This high pressure produced in the phloem tissue moves the food to all parts of
the plant having less pressure in their tissues. This allows the phloem to transport food according to
the needs of the plant.
Page Number: 112

Question 1:-Describe the structure and functions of nephrons.

Answer:

Structure of nephron : Each nephron is composed of two parts. First one is a cup-shaped bag at its
upper end which is called Bowman’s capsule.
The Bowman’s capsule contains a bundle of blood capillaries which is called glomerulus. One end of
the glomerulus is attached to the renal artery which brings the impure blood containing the urea
waste into it. These impurities are filtered. The other part of the nephron is coiled. In this part, the
substances like sugar (glucose), amino acid, ions and excess water which are required by the body,
are reabsorbed. The substance remained in the nephron is mainly urine containing dissolved urea in
water which is expelled from the body through urethra from time to time.

Functions of nephron : Filtration of blood takes place in Bowman’s capsule from the capillaries of
glomerulus. The filtrate passes into the tubular part of the nephron. This filtrate contains glucose,
amino acids, urea, uric acid, salts and water.
Reabsorption : As the filtrate flows along the tubule, useful substances such as glucose, amino acids,
salts and water are selectively reabsorbed into the blood by capillaries surrounding the nephron
tubule.
Urine : The filtrate which remained after reabsorption is called urine. Urine contains dissolved
nitrogenous waste like urea and uric acid, excess salts and water. Urine is collected from nephrons to
carry it to the ureter from where it passes into urinary bladder.

Question 2:-What are the methods used by plants to get rid of excretory
products?
Answer:
(i) The plants get rid of gaseous products-through stomata in leaves and lenticels in stems.
(ii) The plants get rid of stored solid and liquid waste by the shedding off leaves, peeling off bark and
felling off fruits.
(iii) The plants get rid of wastes by secreting them in the form of gums and resins.
(iv) Plants also excrete some waste substances into the soil around them.

Question 3:-How is the amount of urine produced regulated?

Answer:
The amount of urine is regulated by kidney. It depends on the quantity of excess water and wastes
dissolved in water.

(i) Quantity of water: When water is abundant in the body tissues, large quantities of dilute urine is
excreted out. When water is less in quantity in the body tissues, a small quantity of concentrate urine
is excreted.
(ii) Quantity of dissolved wastes: Dissolved wastes, especially nitrogenous wastes, like urea and uric
acid and salts are excreted from the body. When there is more quantity of dissolved wastes in the
body, more quantity of water is required to excrete them. Therefore, the amount of urine produced
increases.
(iii) Hormones: The amount of urine produced is also regulated by certain hormones which control
the movement of water and Na+ ions in and out of the nephrons.
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science

Chapter 6
Textbook Chapter End Questions
Question 1:-The kidneys in human beings are a part of the system for
(i) nutrition
(ii) respiration
(iii) excretion
(iv) transportation
Answer:
(iii) Excretion
The excretory system of human beings includes a pair of kidneys, a pair of ureters, a urinary bladder and a urethra.
Kidneys are located in the abdomen, one on either side of the backbone. Urine produced in the kidneys passes
through the ureters into the urinary bladder where it is stored until it is released through the urethra.

Question 2:-The xylem in plants are responsible for

(i) transport of water
(ii) transport of food
(iii) transport of amino acids
(iv) transport of oxygen
Answer:
(i) Transport of water
In plants Xylem is responsible for transport of water hence the answer is (a)

Question 3:-The autotrophic mode of nutrition requires

(i) carbon dioxide and water
(ii) chlorophyll
(iii) sunlight
(iv) all of the above
Answer:
(iv) All of the above
Autotrophic mode of nutrition requires carob-di-oxide, water, chlorophyll and sunlight from the preparation of food
hence the answer is (d) all of the above.

Question 4:-The breakdown of pyruvate to give carbon dioxide, water and energy
takes place in
(i) cytoplasm
(ii) mitochondria
(iii) chloroplast
(iv) nucleus
Answer:
(ii) Mitochondria
The breakdown of pyruvate to give carbon dioxide, water and energy takes place in mitochondria. Hence the
answer is (b) mitochondria
Question 5:-How are fats digested in our bodies? Where does this process take
place?
Answer:
Digestion of fats takes place in the small intestine.
Bile juice secreted by the liver poured in the intestine along with pancreatic juice. The bile salts
present in the bile juice emulsify the large globules of fats. Therefore, by emulsification large
globules break down into fine globules to provide larger surface area to act upon by the enzymes.
Lipase enzyme present in the pancreatic juice causes break down of emulsified fats. Glands present
in the wall of small intestine secrete intestinal juice which contains lipase enzyme that converts fats
into fatty acids and glycerol.

Question 6:-What is the role of saliva in the digestion of food?

Answer:
Saliva contains salivary amylase enzyme that breaks down starch into sugars like maltose.

Saliva keeps the mouth cavity clean and moistens the food that help in chewing and breaking down
the big pieces of food into smaller ones.

Question 7:-What are the necessary conditions (or autotrophic nutrition and
what are its by-products?
Answer:
Necessary conditions for autotrophic nutrition :
(i) Presence of chlorophyll in the living cells.
(if) Provision of supply of water to green plants or cells of the plant.
(iii) Sufficient sunlight.
(iv) Sufficient supply of carbon dioxide.
By-product of auto tropic nutrition is oxygen.

Question 8:-What are the differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration?
Name some organisms that use the anaerobic mode of respiration.
Answer:

Aerobic respiration Anaerobic respiration

1. It takes place in the presence of oxygen. 1. It takes place in the absence of oxygen.
2. Complete breakdown of food occurs in 2. Partial breakdown of food occurs in anaerobic

aerobic respiration. respiration.

3. The end products in aerobic respiration are 3. The end products in anaerobic respiration may be

carbon dioxide and water. ethanol and carbon dioxide (as in yeast plants) or lactic

acid (as in animal muscles).

4. Aerobic respiration produces a 4. Much less energy is produced in anaerobic

considerable amount of energy. respiration.

Some organisms which use anaerobic respiration are yeast, bacteria etc.

Question 9:-How are the alveoli designed to maximise the exchange of gases?
Answer:
(i) The alveoli are thin walled and richly supplied with a network of blood vessels to facilitate
exchange of gases between blood and the air filled in alveoli.
(ii) Alveoli have balloon-like structure. Hence, provide maximum surface for exchange of gases.

Question 10:-What would be the consequences of a deficiency of hemoglobin in

our bodies?
Answer:
Due to the deficiency of hemoglobin in blood, its oxygen carrying capacity decreases. As a result the
production of energy by oxidation will become slower. Therefore, one would fall sick and would feel
fatigue most of the time.

Question 11:-Describe double circulation in human beings. Why is it necessary?

Answer:
In our heart blood enters twice and also pumped out twice from the heart. The deoxygenated blood
from the body is brought to the right atrium through vena cava from where it is sent to right
ventricle. From right ventricle, the blood is pumped to the lungs for oxygenation through pulmonary
artery. The oxygenated blood from lungs again enters the left atrium of the heart through pulmonary
veins. From left atrium it is send to left ventricle, from where this oxygenated blood is pumped to
different parts of body through the arteries. In this way the blood flows through the heart twice,
that’s why it is called ‘double circulation’.

Necessity of double circulation: The right side and the left side of the human heart are useful to
keep deoxygenated and oxygenated blood from mixing. This type of separation of oxygenated and
deoxygenated blood ensures a highly efficient supply of oxygen to the body. This is useful in case of
humans who constantly need energy to maintain their body temperature.
Question 12:-What are the differences between the transport of materials in
xylem and phloem?
Answer:

Xylem Phloem

1. Xylem conducts water and dissolved minerals 1. Phloem conducts prepared food material from

from roots to leaves and other parts. leaves to other parts of plant in dissolved form.

2. In xylem, the transport of material takes place 2. In phloem, transport of material takes place

through vessels and tracheid’s which dead through sieve tubes with the help of companion

tissues are. cells, which are living cells.

3. In xylem upward movement of water and 3. In translocation, material is transferred into

dissolved minerals is mainly achieved by phloem tissue using energy from ATP. This

transpiration pull. It is caused due to suction increases the osmotic pressure that moves the

created by evaporation of water molecules from material in the phloem to tissues which have less

the cells of a leaf. pressure

Question 13:-Compare the functioning of alveoli in the lungs and nephrons in the
kidneys with respect to their structure and functioning.
Answer:

Alveoli Nephron

1. Alveoli are functional unit of lungs. 1. Nephrons are functional unit of kidney.

2. A mature lung has about 30 crore alveoli. 2. A kidney has about 10 lakh nephrons.
3. Alveoli provide a wide surface for gaseous 3. The surface area of a nephron is not much more.

exchange.

4. The exchange of O2 and CO2 takes place 4. The Bowman’s capsule in nephron regulates the

through the network of capillaries in alveoli. concentration of water and salts.