levo

Photosynthesis

Nitrogen, magnesium and plant growth

  • 3 things to know
  • Component 1

Overview

Four kinds of compound in a plant that contain nitrogen, why a shortage of nitrogen stunts a plant's growth and visible symptoms of nitrogen deficiency.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

In what form does a plant absorb nitrogen from the soil?

Key term

Name four kinds of compound in a plant that contain nitrogen.

Key term

Explain why a shortage of nitrogen stunts a plant's growth.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    In what form does a plant absorb nitrogen from the soil?

    Model answer

    As nitrate ions, and to a smaller extent as ammonium ions, taken up by active transport into the root hairs.

  2. 2

    Name four kinds of compound in a plant that contain nitrogen.

    Model answer

    Amino acids and proteins, nucleic acids, ATP and chlorophyll.

  3. 3

    Explain why a shortage of nitrogen stunts a plant's growth.

    Model answer

    Without nitrogen the plant cannot make amino acids, so proteins including enzymes and the structures needed for cell division cannot be built.

  4. 4

    Describe the visible symptoms of nitrogen deficiency.

    Model answer

    The plant is small with a weak, spindly shoot, and its older leaves turn pale green and then yellow while the young leaves stay greener.

  5. 5

    In what form does a plant absorb magnesium?

    Model answer

    As magnesium ions, Mg²⁺, from the soil solution.

  6. 6

    Why does a plant need magnesium?

    Model answer

    Magnesium sits at the centre of every chlorophyll molecule, and it also activates a number of enzymes including those of the Calvin cycle.

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

1Closed book
2Open book
3Closed book

The 3-step method, run for you

Answer cold, learn it, then prove it stuck. Levo tracks the jump between your first attempt and your last.

Biological Molecules
Cell Structure and Organisation
Cell Membranes and Transport
Enzymes

Cram a whole paper in one sitting

Sort every topic into what you know and what you do not, then drill only the weak ones.

The cycle.
CalvinKrebsurea

Blank Blitz makes facts automatic

Rapid timed gap-fills on the terms and numbers you need to recall without thinking.

AThe radius is 0.20 mm.
BThe area of the field is π × 0.20² = 0.126 mm².
CThe density is 15 ÷ 0.126 = 119 stomata per mm².

Build It gets the exam shape right

Assemble a full-mark answer from its marking points, in the order an examiner wants them.

A stoma is the pore itself.
TrueFalse

Test It catches misconceptions

Spot the fault in a statement. The traps are the mistakes students actually make.

721941163128510

Brain Breaks between sessions

Short focus games to reset attention, so the next set lands better than the last.

Every question in Photosynthesis, on a schedule.

Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.

Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.