Question

Imagine yourself as a water molecule in the soil solution of a forest. In a short essay (100–150 words), explain what pathways and what forces would be necessary to carry you to the leaves of these trees.

Short answer

The forces required to carry the water molecule from the soil to the leaves of the trees are forces of adhesion and cohesion. These forces pull the water upwards by the capillary action.

The plant xylem carries the water upwards from the roots to the leaves and other plant parts.

Step-by-step solution

Vascular system

In plants, the vascular system causes the movement of water and food materials. Vascular tissues include the xylem and phloem. Xylem carries water from the roots to the leaves and all the parts of the plant. Phloem carries food like starch from the leaves to the other parts of the plant.

Capillary action

Capillary action carries water along with all the minerals from the soil to the leaves and different plant organs. The water flow within the porous material is caused by the forces of adhesion, cohesion, and surface tension.

The water molecules attach or link with each other because of the forces like adhesion and cohesion, which help the molecules pull up by the capillary action.

Cohesion and adhesion

Water molecules stay near each other due to cohesion. Water molecules connect and adhere to other things such as minerals and nutrients due to adhesion. Adhesion forces the water molecules along the vessel's liquid borders to flow upward, pushing the meniscus higher.

Thus, the water molecules move from the root to the leaves by the pathway of capillary action that uses forces like cohesion and adhesion.