The Bulk of a Plant's Dry Weight is Derived From

Question

The bulk of a plant's dry weight is derived from
A)soil minerals.
B)CO₂.
C)the hydrogen from H₂O.
D)the oxygen from H₂O.
E)the uptake of organic nutrients from the soil.

Accepted Answer

The bulk of a plant's dry weight is derived from the carbon dioxide (CO₂) that the plant absorbs from the air during photosynthesis. The plant uses energy from sunlight to convert the CO₂ into organic molecules, which make up the bulk of its structure. While soil minerals, water, and organic nutrients from the soil are important for plant growth and development, they contribute relatively little to the overall dry weight of the plant.