Question

A tree grows and increases its mass. Explain why this is not a violation of the law of conservation of matter.

Short answer

Tree growth involves changing external matter into biomass, aligning with conservation of matter.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the Law of Conservation of Matter

The law of conservation of matter states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system. It implies that the total amount of matter in a closed system remains constant over time.

Identifying Inputs to the Tree

Consider the inputs that a tree uses to grow, such as water, carbon dioxide, and nutrients from the soil. These are crucial for the tree's photosynthesis and overall growth process.

Analyzing Photosynthesis

During photosynthesis, a tree absorbs carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air and water (H₂O) from the soil to produce glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and release oxygen (O₂). This process is vital for the tree to create new mass.

Mass Conversion in Growth

The tree's increase in mass is due to the chemical conversion of CO₂ and H₂O into organic compounds like glucose, which are used to build new tissues. This conversion involves reorganizing existing matter, not creating new matter.

Conclusion - Conservation of Matter

The law of conservation of matter is not violated because the tree's growth involves the transformation and incorporation of external matter (carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients) into its structure, maintaining overall matter balance.

Key concepts

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is a vital process that enables trees to grow by converting light energy into chemical energy. During this process, trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air and water (H₂O) from the soil. Using sunlight, trees convert these inputs into glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and oxygen (O₂). This process takes place mostly in the leaves, where chlorophyll captures sunlight. The produced glucose serves as an energy source for the tree's growth and is used to create building blocks for new tissues.

• Photosynthesis is essential for producing the organic materials a tree needs.
• This process is a key driver in the tree's ability to increase its mass.

Tree Growth

The growth of a tree involves the expansion and development of its roots, trunk, branches, and leaves. As photosynthesis provides necessary energy and organic compounds, trees utilize these resources to build new cell structures. Trees grow in height and diameter across their lifespan, driven by cell division and expansion. This growth occurs in specific parts of the tree:

• Root tips and shoot tips, where cells actively divide.
• The vascular cambium, a layer of cells in the trunk, which helps add thickness to the tree.

By integrating external matters such as water, carbon dioxide, and soil nutrients, trees are constantly adding to their mass without breaking the conservation of mass law. The tree growth process is a beautiful example of how nature reorganizes existing materials to create new life.

Mass Conversion

Mass conversion is at the heart of a tree's increase in size and weight. This process ensures that the tree uses the matter absorbed from its environment to form new tissues, like leaves, wood, and roots. When a tree photosynthesizes, it converts carbon dioxide and water into glucose which acts as a building block for growth. This conversion reorganizes atoms, allowing the growth of new cells and thus increasing the tree's biomass.

• It's important to note that mass conversion does not create new matter but rearranges existing ones.
• Energy from sunlight powers this chemical transformation.

Through mass conversion, a tree adheres to the conservation of matter by simply transforming input materials.

Nutrient Uptake

Nutrient uptake is crucial for sustaining tree growth and health. As trees absorb water from the soil, they also take in essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These nutrients play vital roles in various physiological processes.

• Nitrogen is crucial for protein and chlorophyll production.
• Phosphorus aids in energy transfer and photosynthesis.
• Potassium regulates stomatal opening and closing, supporting gas exchange.

Nutrient uptake is a selective process, where roots absorb necessary minerals with the help of root hairs and mycorrhizal associations. This uptake supports the conversion of these nutrients into plant tissue, contributing to the tree’s mass without violating the conservation of matter. In essence, nutrient uptake allows trees to efficiently convert environmental substances into components needed for growth.