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3 (a) Plants use nitrate ions to make proteins and chlorophyll - Edexcel - GCSE Biology: Combined Science - Question 3 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 3
3 (a) Plants use nitrate ions to make proteins and chlorophyll. (i) What effects will a low nitrate ion concentration in soils have on plants? A reduced growth a... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:3 (a) Plants use nitrate ions to make proteins and chlorophyll - Edexcel - GCSE Biology: Combined Science - Question 3 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
What effects will a low nitrate ion concentration in soils have on plants?
Answer
A low concentration of nitrate ions in the soil can lead to poor plant nutrition, resulting in reduced growth. The plants may have darker green leaves when they have enough nitrogen, so with low nitrate availability, the leaves may appear lighter green due to insufficient chlorophyll production. Therefore, the most suitable answer is option A: reduced growth and darker green leaves.
Step 2
Which organisms convert nitrogen to nitrate ions during the nitrogen cycle?
Answer
The primary organisms responsible for converting nitrogen into nitrate ions during the nitrogen cycle are bacteria. These microorganisms, especially nitrifying bacteria, play a crucial role in the process of nitrification. Thus, the correct answer is option A: bacteria.