5 (a) (i) A plant is growing in soil with a very low concentration of mineral ions - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 5 - 2014 - Paper 1

Mineral ions are primarily taken into the plant through root hair cells. These specialized cells have a large surface area that enhances their ability to absorb nutrients from the soil.

The process occurs mainly through active transport, which requires energy. In this process, mineral ions are absorbed against their concentration gradient; this means they move from an area of lower concentration in the soil to an area of higher concentration within the root cells. The active transport mechanism pumps these ions into the plant cells, ensuring that the plant can access essential nutrients even when they are present in low concentrations in the surrounding soil.