Class 7 Science Chapter 10: Life Processes in Plants | Complete NCERT Notes, Photosynthesis, Activities 10.1-10.8 Solved, Chlorophyll Starch Test

Complete Chapter 10 Guide: Photosynthesis (Sunlight+Water+CO2+Chlorophyll→Glucose+Oxygen), Activity 10.1 Plant Growth Sunlight Water Test, Activity 10.2 Leaf Starch Iodine Test, Activity 10.3 Green vs Non-Green Leaf Starch, Activity 10.4 CO2 Essential Test, Xylem Water Transport, Phloem Food Transport, Plant Respiration Lime Water Test, Bottle Garden Self-Sustaining Ecosystem, Vrikshayurveda Ancient Knowledge, 25+ Practice Questions & Answers CBSE Exam

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Class 7 Science Chapter 10: Life Processes in Plants | Complete NCERT Notes, Activities, Questions & Answers 2025

Full Chapter Summary & Detailed Notes - Life Processes in Plants

Introduction

Plants, like animals, are living organisms that grow and need food. Unlike animals, plants do not eat ready-made food. They make their own food through a process called photosynthesis. This chapter explains how plants grow, how they prepare their food, and how they transport water and nutrients.

10.1 How Do Plants Grow?

When a plant grows, we observe:

New leaves and branches appear
Height of the plant increases
Stem becomes thicker

Students often think water, sunlight, or soil nutrients help growth. To test this, we perform Activity 10.1.

Activity 10.1 – Role of Sunlight and Water in Plant Growth

Pot	Condition	Expected Result after 2 weeks
A	In direct sunlight + regular water	Maximum growth, healthy green leaves, many new leaves, increased height
B	In direct sunlight + NO water	Plant wilts and may die, leaves dry and fall
C	In dark + regular water	Poor growth, yellow leaves (chlorosis), elongated weak stem

Inference: Plants need BOTH sunlight and water for healthy growth.

10.2 Nutrition in Plants – Autotrophic Mode

Plants are autotrophs — they make their own food. The process is called photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis – The Food-Making Factory

Raw materials: Carbon dioxide (from air), Water (from soil)
Energy source: Sunlight
Pigment: Chlorophyll (in leaves)
By-products: Oxygen (released), Glucose (food made)

Balanced Equation:
6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ (Glucose) + 6O₂ ↑
(in presence of sunlight and chlorophyll)

Site: Chloroplasts in leaf cells (contain chlorophyll → green colour)

Role of Stomata

Tiny pores on the lower surface of leaves
Allow entry of CO₂ and exit of O₂
Also help in transpiration

10.3 Transport of Substances in Plants

Plants need two main transport systems:

Tissue	Transports	Direction
Xylem	Water + minerals from roots → leaves	Upward
Phloem	Food (glucose/sucrose) from leaves → all parts	Both directions

Transpiration – The Driving Force

Loss of water vapour from leaves through stomata. It creates a pull that helps water move upward from roots (like drinking water with a straw).

Benefits: Cools the plant, helps in mineral transport.

10.4 Respiration in Plants

Plants also need energy for life processes. They respire day and night.

Equation:
C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + Energy

Gas exchange occurs through stomata, lenticels (on stem), and root hairs.

Special Cases of Nutrition

Parasitic plants (e.g., Cuscuta): No chlorophyll, take ready food from host.
Insectivorous plants (e.g., Venus flytrap, Pitcher plant): Trap insects to get nitrogen (grow in nitrogen-poor soil).
Saprophytic plants (e.g., mushrooms): Feed on dead matter.
Symbiotic plants: Lichens (fungus + algae live together).

Key Takeaways for Exams

Plants are autotrophs → make food by photosynthesis
Photosynthesis needs: Sunlight, CO₂, H₂O, Chlorophyll
Activity 10.1 proves sunlight + water are essential
Xylem = water upward, Phloem = food both ways
Transpiration helps in upward movement of water
Plants respire throughout the day and night

One-Page Revision Map

Growth → Sunlight + Water + Minerals (Activity 10.1)
Food making → Photosynthesis in leaves
Transport → Xylem (water ↑) | Phloem (food ↕)
Energy release → Respiration (day & night)
Special nutrition → Parasitic, Insectivorous, Saprophytic

Key Definitions & Terms - Complete Glossary (Chapter 10)

All important terms from "Life Processes in Plants" with detailed explanations, examples, exam notes, and diagrams reference.

Autotrophic Nutrition

Detailed Explanation: Mode of nutrition in which organisms make their own food from simple inorganic substances (CO₂, H₂O) using sunlight energy. Plants are the best example.

Example: All green plants, algae, some bacteria.

Exam Note: Opposite of heterotrophic nutrition (animals, fungi, non-green plants). Most frequently asked difference in exams.

Key Point: Only autotrophs can convert solar energy into chemical energy.

Photosynthesis

Detailed Explanation: The process by which green plants use sunlight, CO₂ and water to synthesize glucose (food) and release oxygen as by-product.

Balanced Equation:
6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ (in presence of sunlight + chlorophyll)

Site: Chloroplasts in leaf cells

Exam Note: Must remember raw materials, products, and conditions. Often asked: "Why is photosynthesis called food-making factory of plant?"

Chlorophyll

Detailed Explanation: Green pigment present in chloroplasts that absorbs sunlight (mainly red & blue wavelengths) and converts it into chemical energy.

Reason for green colour: Reflects green light.

Exam Note: Absence → no photosynthesis → yellow/white leaves (chlorosis). Activity 10.1 Pot C shows yellow leaves due to lack of chlorophyll synthesis in dark.

Stomata

Detailed Explanation: Tiny pores mainly on lower surface of leaves surrounded by guard cells. Allow exchange of gases (CO₂ in, O₂ out) and water vapour during transpiration.

Number: Thousands per leaf

Exam Note: Open in day (for photosynthesis), partially closed at night. Guard cells control opening/closing by changing shape with water content.

Xylem

Detailed Explanation: Vascular tissue that transports water and dissolved minerals from roots to leaves (upward movement only). Made of dead tubular cells.

Driving force: Transpiration pull

Exam Note: Compare with phloem. Often asked: "Which tissue carries water upwards?"

Phloem

Detailed Explanation: Living vascular tissue that transports food (glucose/sucrose) from leaves to all parts of plant (both directions).

Process: Translocation

Exam Note: Remember direction: Xylem = one way up, Phloem = both ways. Damage to phloem → food starvation in roots.

Transpiration

Detailed Explanation: Loss of water in the form of water vapour from aerial parts (mainly leaves) through stomata.

Benefits: Creates suction pull for water transport, cools the plant, maintains turgidity.

Exam Note: Excessive transpiration → wilting (like Pot B in Activity 10.1). Most water absorbed by roots is lost through transpiration.

Parasitic Nutrition

Detailed Explanation: Mode where organism derives food from another living organism (host) without killing it. No chlorophyll.

Example: Cuscuta (Amarbel) – yellow tubular structure twining around host stem.

Exam Note: Often asked: "Why is Cuscuta called parasite?"

Insectivorous Plants

Detailed Explanation: Plants that trap and digest insects to fulfill nitrogen requirement (grow in nitrogen-deficient soil).

Examples: Pitcher plant (modified leaf as pitcher), Venus flytrap (sensitive leaf traps), Sundew (sticky tentacles).

Exam Note: They are still autotrophic (do photosynthesis) but supplement nitrogen.

Saprophytic Nutrition

Detailed Explanation: Feeding on dead and decaying organic matter by releasing digestive enzymes externally.

Example: Mushrooms, bread mould.

Exam Note: Help in recycling nutrients in ecosystem.

Symbiotic Nutrition

Detailed Explanation: Mutual benefit relationship between two organisms.

Example: Lichens (fungus + algae), Rhizobium in root nodules of legumes (fixes atmospheric nitrogen).

Exam Note: Important for soil fertility questions.

Exam Quick Tips:

Photosynthesis: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ (sunlight + chlorophyll)
Transport: Xylem → water ↑ | Phloem → food ↕
Activity 10.1: Pot A = best growth, Pot C = yellow leaves
Special nutrition: Parasitic (Cuscuta), Insectivorous (Pitcher plant), Saprophytic (Mushroom)
Most asked: Difference between xylem & phloem, Activity 10.1 inference

Activities & 25+ Questions and Answers - Life Processes in Plants

Activity 10.1: Effect of Sunlight and Water on Plant Growth

Pot A (sun + water): Maximum growth, green leaves, increased height/leaves.
Pot B (sun no water): Least growth, may die, wilted/yellow leaves.
Pot C (no sun + water): Poor growth, yellow leaves, less height increase.
Reason: Sunlight and water essential; A has both, B lacks water, C lacks sunlight.

NCERT Let Us Enhance Our Learning - Solved Questions

1. What do plants need for growth?

Sunlight, water, nutrients from soil.

2. Explain photosynthesis.

Process where plants make food using CO2, water, sunlight, chlorophyll.

3. Role of sunlight in plant growth?

Provides energy for photosynthesis; without it, plants turn yellow/weak.

4. How does water contribute to growth?

Essential for photosynthesis, transport; lack causes wilting/death.

5. What changes in growing plants?

New leaves/branches, height increase, stem thickening.

Extra Practice Questions (Exam Booster)

6. Why Pot A grows best?

Has both sunlight and water.

7. What happens without water (Pot B)?

Plant wilts, dies; no transport/photosynthesis.

8. Why Pot C has yellow leaves?

No sunlight for photosynthesis; chlorophyll breaks down.

9. Define autotrophic nutrition.

Making own food (plants via photosynthesis).

10. Equation of photosynthesis?

6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2 (with light/chlorophyll).

11. Role of chlorophyll?

Absorbs sunlight for energy.

12. What is transpiration?

Water loss from leaves; pulls water up.

13. Function of xylem?

Transports water/minerals from roots.

14. Function of phloem?

Transports food from leaves.

15. How plants respire?

Through stomata/roots; release energy.

16. Difference plant/animal nutrition?

Plants autotrophic; animals heterotrophic.

17. Why leaves green?

Chlorophyll pigment.

18. What if no sunlight?

No photosynthesis; plant starves/weakens.

19. Role of soil in growth?

Provides minerals/nutrients via roots.

20. Explain stomata function.

Gas exchange (CO2 in, O2 out); transpiration.

21. What is glucose used for?

Energy, stored as starch.

22. Why water plants regularly?

For photosynthesis, transport, turgidity.

23. What is heterotrophic nutrition?

Depending on others (animals, some plants).

24. Example parasitic plant?

Cuscuta (depends on host).

25. Insectivorous plant example?

Venus flytrap (traps insects for nitrogen).

End-of-Chapter Exercises (Pages 15–16) – Fully Solved

1. Choose the correct option.

(i) Green plants are called (a) autotrophs

(ii) The process by which plants make their food is (c) photosynthesis

(iii) The tiny pores present on the surface of leaves are called (b) stomata

(iv) The tissue that transports food in plants is (c) phloem

(v) Loss of water in the form of vapour from aerial parts of the plant is known as (a) transpiration

2. Fill in the blanks.

(i) Plants take carbon dioxide from air through stomata.

(ii) The green pigment in leaves is chlorophyll.

(iii) Water is transported in plants through xylem.

(iv) Cuscuta is an example of a parasite.

(v) Pitcher plant is an insectivorous plant.

3. Give one word for the following.

(i) Food-making process in plants → photosynthesis

(ii) Green pigment that traps sunlight → chlorophyll

(iii) Loss of water vapour from leaves → transpiration

(iv) Plant that traps insects → insectivorous plant

(v) Relationship where both organisms benefit → symbiosis

4. State whether the following statements are True or False.

(i) Plants need sunlight and water for growth. → True

(ii) Photosynthesis takes place only at night. → False (mainly in day)

(iii) Xylem transports food from leaves to other parts. → False (phloem does)

(iv) Transpiration helps in upward movement of water. → True

(v) Mushroom is an autotrophic plant. → False (saprophyte)

5. Short Answer Questions

(a) What is photosynthesis?
The process by which green plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll to make their own food (glucose) and release oxygen.

(b) Write the balanced equation of photosynthesis.
6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ (sunlight + chlorophyll)

(c) Why was the plant in Pot C yellow in Activity 10.1?
No sunlight → no chlorophyll synthesis → leaves turned yellow (chlorosis).

(d) Name two special modes of nutrition in plants.
Parasitic (Cuscuta) and insectivorous (Pitcher plant, Venus flytrap).

6. Long Answer Questions

(a) Explain the role of sunlight and water in plant growth with reference to Activity 10.1.
Pot A (sunlight + water) → maximum healthy growth.
Pot B (sunlight but no water) → wilted/died.
Pot C (water but no sunlight) → yellow leaves, poor growth.
Conclusion: Sunlight is needed for photosynthesis (food making) and chlorophyll formation; water is needed for photosynthesis, transport and maintaining turgidity.

(b) Differentiate between xylem and phloem.

Xylem	Phloem
Transports water & minerals	Transports food (glucose)
From roots → leaves (upward)	Leaves → all parts (both directions)
Made of dead cells	Made of living cells
No translocation of food	Translocates food

(c) Describe any two special types of nutrition in plants with examples.
• Parasitic: Cuscuta (amarbel) has no chlorophyll; it twines around host plant and absorbs ready food through haustoria.
• Insectivorous: Pitcher plant – leaf modified into pitcher with digestive juices; insects fall in and are digested for nitrogen.

7. Give reasons.

(i) Leaves are green in colour.
→ Because they contain the green pigment chlorophyll.

(ii) Excessive transpiration causes wilting.
→ Loss of too much water makes cells flaccid; plant loses turgidity and droops.

(iii) Plants kept in dark become yellow.
→ No sunlight → no new chlorophyll formation → existing chlorophyll breaks down → leaves turn yellow.

8. Draw a labelled diagram of a leaf showing stomata.

(Students should draw a leaf with lower epidermis showing guard cells and stomatal pore.)

Topic	Key Points
Growth Needs	Sunlight, water, nutrients
Photosynthesis	CO2 + H2O → Glucose + O2
Transport	Xylem water, phloem food
Respiration	Glucose + O2 → CO2 + H2O + energy

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Class 7 Science Chapter 10: Life Processes in Plants | Complete NCERT Notes, Photosynthesis, Activities 10.1-10.8 Solved, Chlorophyll Starch Test

Life Processes in Plants

Full Chapter Summary & Detailed Notes - Life Processes in Plants

Introduction

10.1 How Do Plants Grow?

Activity 10.1 – Role of Sunlight and Water in Plant Growth

10.2 Nutrition in Plants – Autotrophic Mode

Photosynthesis – The Food-Making Factory

Role of Stomata

10.3 Transport of Substances in Plants

Transpiration – The Driving Force

10.4 Respiration in Plants

Special Cases of Nutrition

Key Takeaways for Exams

One-Page Revision Map

Key Definitions & Terms - Complete Glossary (Chapter 10)

Autotrophic Nutrition

Photosynthesis

Chlorophyll

Stomata

Xylem

Phloem

Transpiration

Parasitic Nutrition

Insectivorous Plants

Saprophytic Nutrition

Symbiotic Nutrition

Exam Quick Tips:

Activities & 25+ Questions and Answers - Life Processes in Plants

Activity 10.1: Effect of Sunlight and Water on Plant Growth

NCERT Let Us Enhance Our Learning - Solved Questions

1. What do plants need for growth?

2. Explain photosynthesis.

3. Role of sunlight in plant growth?

4. How does water contribute to growth?

5. What changes in growing plants?

Extra Practice Questions (Exam Booster)

6. Why Pot A grows best?

7. What happens without water (Pot B)?

8. Why Pot C has yellow leaves?

9. Define autotrophic nutrition.

10. Equation of photosynthesis?

11. Role of chlorophyll?

12. What is transpiration?

13. Function of xylem?

14. Function of phloem?

15. How plants respire?

16. Difference plant/animal nutrition?

17. Why leaves green?

18. What if no sunlight?

19. Role of soil in growth?

20. Explain stomata function.

21. What is glucose used for?

22. Why water plants regularly?

23. What is heterotrophic nutrition?

24. Example parasitic plant?

25. Insectivorous plant example?

End-of-Chapter Exercises (Pages 15–16) – Fully Solved

1. Choose the correct option.

2. Fill in the blanks.

3. Give one word for the following.

4. State whether the following statements are True or False.

5. Short Answer Questions

6. Long Answer Questions

7. Give reasons.

8. Draw a labelled diagram of a leaf showing stomata.

Key Concepts - In-Depth Exploration (Chapter 10)

Photosynthesis

Autotrophic Nutrition

Transpiration

Xylem & Phloem

Respiration

Exam Master Tips:

Historical & Social Insights - Plant Life Processes

Scientific Evolution

Social Aspects

Exam Important Points:

Real-Life Examples

🧠 Interactive Quiz (10 Questions) - Class 7 Science Ch 10

Quick Revision Notes & Mnemonics