ACTIVE TRANSPORT

Root hairs absorb water from the soil In order to be able to do so, they need to have a lower water potential compared to the soil solution It means that the soil has a lower concentration of salts compared to the sap in the root hair Yet, the root hair is also able to take in mineral salts as well It means that the minerals salts move from a region of lower concentration to region of higher concentration

THIS PROCESS IS CALLED ACTIVE TRANSPORT

The movement of particles from region of lower concentration to region of higher concentration The movement of molecules against a concentration gradient Energy is required for this purpose

Cell membranes have special protein molecules called transporter proteins They pump ions into or out of the cell, against their concentration gradient, Use energy produced from respiration

IMPORTANCE OF ACTIVE TRANSPORT

Absorption of salts (ions) by root hairs Absorption of nutrients in small intestine