11 Plants and Conservation

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International A Level Biology Your notes

Edexcel
Plants & Conservation
Contents
4.7 Plant-Based Products for Sustainability
4.8 Water & Inorganic Ions in Plants
4.9 Core Practical 8: Determining the Tensile Strength of Plant Fibres
Page 1 of 7
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4.7 Plant-Based Products for Sustainability

Your notes
Substituting Oil-Based Products
Sustainability refers to the use of resources in such a way that the requirements of the current
generation are met without depleting these resources for future generations
This requires the use of renewable resources - which can be used without the resource running
out
An example would be solar energy - it will not run out in our lifetime as the sun will continue to
shine every day for several billion more years
Fossil fuels are an example of a non-renewable resource, as they could potentially run out if we
use them too fast (since it takes millions of years for fossil fuels to form)
Sustainable practices are those that minimise the damage done to the environment and its
resources, to ensure that there will be something left for the next generation
An example would be replanting trees after logging
Unsustainable practices are limited by a finite supply of resources
An example is the use of fossil fuels to make oil-based plastics
Plant fibres and sustainability
Using plant fibres to make products such as ropes and fabric is more sustainable than using oil-
based plastics
Less fossil fuels are used and plants can be replanted for the next generation
Plant fibres are biodegradable, unlike most oil-based plastics, which means the products made
from these fibres can be broken down by microbes to minimise environmental pollution
Extracting and processing oil is an expensive and difficult procedure compared to growing and
processing plants, making plant-based products easier and cheaper to produce in developing
countries
However, the ropes made from plant fibres are typically not as strong as plastic ones
Starch and sustainability
Plants store excess sugars as starch in their cells
Starch can be used to make bioplastics which is more sustainable than making oil-based
plastics
It does not require as much fossil fuels to be burned to produce them and the crop plants can
be replanted (renewable resource)
Starch can also be used to make bioethanol, which can be used as a fuel for vehicles
Using starch to produce biofuels is more sustainable than producing them from oil
Bioplastics
Bioplastics are made from biological polymers e.g. starch and cellulose
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There are multiple benefits to using bioplastics as a suitable replacement of traditional plastics
Sustainability: starch and cellulose are plant based materials which can be replaced at a
sustainable rate; unlike oil based plastics which are made from non-renewable fossil fuels Your notes
Biodegradable: since bioplastics are made from biological material, it can be broken down
by microorganisms; unlike oil based plastics which is generally not biodegradable
This could potentially decrease the amount of plastic pollution that is currently having a
detrimental effect on the environment
Currently, there are several different types of bioplastics in use
Cellulose-based plastics are made from wood pulp and are mainly used as food wrappers
(e.g. cellophane)
Thermoplastic starch which is a mixture of starch and other compounds, such as gelatine, to
create a smooth and shiny plastic
This has been used with great success in the pharmaceutical industry to create easy to
swallow capsules that contain drugs
Polylactic acid (PLA) produced from maiz e or sugar cane and have properties similar to
polyethene
Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) which is made from products of the sugar industry and
used in ropes, bank notes and car parts
Bioplastics can be burned once they are no longer used to avoid the production of methane
during decomposition
Methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than the carbon dioxide released during
combustion
An added advantage to burning is that the energy released can be utilised to generate
electricity and produce more bioplastics
There are several challenges concerning the use of bioplastic
They do not always have the same useful properties as oil based plastics
Bioplastics are more expensive than oil based plastics
Using limited food crops to produce plastics (which do not feed the hungry) is a
controversial subject in some parts of the world
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4.8 Water & Inorganic Ions in Plants

Your notes
Roles of Water & Ions in Plants
Plant cells perform a variety of different functions
In order to perform these functions efficiently, the plant requires water and inorganic
ions (minerals)
They are absorbed through the root hairs on the root and travel up the stem in xylem vessels
A plant will show certain symptoms (e.g. yellow leaves, stunted growth) when there is
a deficiency in any one of these substances
Water
Important component required for photosynthesis
Provides a transport medium for minerals
Maintains turgidity in plant cells though pressure in cell vacuoles
Regulates temperature - to ensure that enz ymes can function at their optimum rate
Magnesium ions
Important requirement for the production of chlorophyll
This provides the green colour of stems and leaves and is essential for photosynthesis
Nitrate ions
Without nitrate ions, the plant would be unable to synthesise DNA, proteins and chlorophyll
Enzymes are important proteins for which nitrate ions are needed
These molecules are essential for plant growth, as well as the production of fruit and seeds
Calcium ions
These form important cell wall components
Plants require calcium ions for proper growth
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Your notes
Diagram showing the importance of magnesium and nitrate ions for plants
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4.9 Core Practical 8: Determining the Tensile Strength of Plant

Fibres Your notes
Determining the Tensile Strength of Plant Fibres

The tensile strength of a fibre refers to the maximum load it can carry before breaking
For example, this information would be important when determining the strength of a rope
made of plant fibres
Apparatus
Plant fibres
Retort stand (clamp stand)
Clamp
Weights
Method
1. The fibre should be attached to a clamp stand
2. Attach a weight on the other end of the plant fibre
3. Carefully continue to add one weight at a time until the fibre breaks
4. Record the mass at which the fibre broke
5. This represents the tensile strength
6. To increase the accuracy of your results, this process should be repeated with more samples of
the same plant fibre
These values can be used to calculate the mean tensile strength for the fibre
It is important to ensure that the fibres are all of the same length and that all other variables
are kept constant
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Your notes
Apparatus used to determine the tensile strength of plant fibres
Page 7 of 7

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Head to savemyexams.

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International A Level Biology Your notes

4.7 Plant-Based Products for Sustainability

4.8 Water & Inorganic Ions in Plants

4.9 Core Practical 8: Determining the Tensile Strength of Plant

Determining the Tensile Strength of Plant Fibres

Apparatus used to determine the tensile strength of plant fibres

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