Nutrition (VSAQs)

Biology | 1. Nutrition – VSAQs:
Welcome to VSAQs in Chapter 1: Nutrition. This page contains the most important VSAQs in this chapter. Aim to secure top marks in your exams by understanding these clear and straightforward Very Short Answer Questions.


VSAQ-1 : Why KOH is used in Mohl’s half leaf experiment?

Mohl’s Half-Leaf Experiment

Objective:
The experiment is designed to demonstrate the necessity of carbon dioxide (CO2) for photosynthesis.

Role of KOH (Potassium Hydroxide):

  1. KOH (potassium hydroxide) plays a crucial role in this experiment.
  2. Its primary function is to absorb CO2 from the environment within the experimental setup.
  3. By doing so, KOH effectively removes CO2 from the vicinity of the leaf.
  4. This absence of CO2 allows for the observation of the effects on photosynthesis, thereby helping to prove that CO2 is essential for the process.
  5. Without CO2, photosynthesis in the leaf is hindered, which highlights the importance of CO2 in the photosynthesis mechanism.

VSAQ-2 : Which digestive juice doesn’t contain enzymes?

  1. Bile Juice Composition:
    The digestive juice that does not contain enzymes is bile juice, produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile juice is comprised of substances like bile salts and bile pigments, but it lacks digestive enzymes.
  2. Role of Bile Juice:
    These components, particularly bile salts, play a crucial role in the digestion process by emulsifying fats, thereby making them more accessible for enzymatic action in the small intestine. This function is different from that of enzymes, which directly break down food substances.

VSAQ-3 : Mention the two chemicals which you have used in an experiment to test the presence of starch in the leaf.

Testing for Starch in a Leaf

  1. Objective:
    The goal of the experiment is to test for the presence of starch in a leaf.
  2. Chemical Used:
    To conduct this test, one specific chemical is primarily used: an iodine solution.
  3. Reaction with Starch:
    When applied to the leaf, this iodine solution reacts with starch to produce a distinctive blue-black color, indicating the presence of starch.
  4. Additional Chemical:
    In a standard laboratory setting, iodine solution alone is sufficient for this purpose, and no additional chemical like betadine is typically used.

VSAQ-4 : What questions will you ask a doctor to know about malnutrition?

  1. “Can you explain what malnutrition is and why it is a concern?”
    This question aims to get a clear definition of malnutrition from the doctor and understand its importance.
  2. “What are the main causes of malnutrition?”
    This inquiry seeks to understand the various factors that can lead to malnutrition.
  3. Could you describe the different types of malnutrition?”
    Asking this allows for recognition and understanding of the various forms malnutrition can take.
  4. “What are the most effective strategies for preventing and managing malnutrition?”
    This question is about learning strategies for preventing and managing malnutrition, including dietary changes and medical interventions.

VSAQ-5 : Name the vitamin which is synthesized by the bacteria present in the human intestine.

Although Vitamin B12, also known as Cyanocobalamin, is synthesized by certain bacteria, the bacteria in the human intestine do not produce it in significant amounts to meet human dietary needs. Therefore, Vitamin B12 is typically obtained from dietary sources.


VSAQ-6 : How can we say that photosynthesis is the basic energy source for the living world?

  1. Process Overview:
    Photosynthesis is a critical process where plants convert solar energy into chemical energy, specifically into glucose, which they use to grow.
  2. Foundation of the Food Chain:
    This process forms the base of the food chain, as plants are consumed by animals, which in turn may be consumed by other animals, thereby supporting various forms of life.
  3. Oxygen Production:
    Additionally, photosynthesis produces oxygen, a vital component for the survival of most aerobic organisms.
  4. Fundamental Energy Source:
    Therefore, through its role in energy and oxygen production, photosynthesis is indeed the fundamental energy source for most of the living world.

VSAQ-7 : Name the food material on which tripsin acts and name the end products.

Trypsin, an enzyme secreted by the pancreas, primarily acts on protein-rich food items. It breaks down these proteins into smaller parts, specifically cleaving at the carboxyl side of lysine and arginine amino acids. The final products of this digestion process are peptides and amino acids, which are smaller and more absorbable forms of proteins.


VSAQ-8 : Name three end products of photosynthesis?

The two primary end products of photosynthesis are oxygen (O2) and glucose (C6H12O6). Oxygen is released into the atmosphere, while glucose serves as an energy source for the plant.


VSAQ-9 : What happens if the food we eat is not a balanced diet?

Eating food that isn’t balanced can lead to malnutrition. This means your body doesn’t get all the nutrients it needs, which can cause health problems like weak immunity and stunted growth. It can also lead to overnutrition, where you get too much of certain nutrients, increasing the risk of obesity and chronic diseases. A balanced diet is key for good health.


VSAQ-10 : Write two slogans for campaign on Malnutrition.

  1. Nutrition is your health, your health is your wealth.
  2. Heal with every meal: Choose healthy, be wealthy.

VSAQ-11 : What would happen if plants do not perform photosynthesis?

  1. Survival of Plants:
    Without photosynthesis, plants would be unable to make their own food, leading to their eventual death.
  2. Environmental Impact:
    This would cause a significant environmental imbalance, as plants are a fundamental part of most food chains and ecosystems.
  3. Human and Organism Dependency:
    Many organisms, including humans, rely on plants for nourishment.
  4. Oxygen Production:
    Additionally, in the absence of photosynthesis, plants would not produce oxygen, a vital element for the respiration of almost all living organisms.
  5. Implications for Life on Earth:
    The lack of oxygen production would have severe implications for life on Earth.

VSAQ-12 : Write any two materials required to conduct the experiment to prove that carbon-di-oxide is essential for photosynthesis.

To conduct an experiment proving carbon dioxide’s importance in photosynthesis, you need a de-starched plant to ensure any starch formed is new, and potassium hydroxide (KOH) to absorb CO2, creating a carbon dioxide-free environment for the experiment.


VSAQ-13 : Identify the two parts A and B indicated in the given figure.

In the given figure, part A is the stomach, where food breakdown begins, and part B is the small intestine, where most nutrient absorption occurs.