About 200 years ago, Jan Baptista van Helmont wanted to know where growing plant

Question

About 200 years ago, Jan Baptista van Helmont wanted to know where growing plants get the materials necessary for increases in size. He planted a tree seedling weighing 5 pounds in a barrel filled with 200 pounds of soil and then watered the tree regularly. After five years, the tree weighed 169 pounds, 3 ounces, and the soil weighed 199 pounds, 14 ounces. Because the tree had gained so much weight and the soil had lost so little, he concluded that the tree had gained all of its additional weight by absorbing the water he had added to the barrel. Was he correct in his conclusion? Please explain your answer. The Following are the Rules which must be observed in formulating a response: Answers must be MAMIMUM 50 words. response. 1. Words beyond 50 will not be taken as part of your

Explanation / Answer

No, his conclusion was incorrect. As we know, plants thrive on photosynthesis for energy and food production. This process involves absorption of CO2 from air and reacting it with water under sunlight to produce starch. Water acts as provider of protons and also liberates oxygen. Apart from this, plants lose much of water by transpiration. And lastly, plant cell walls are composed of cellulose which is a polysaccharide, synthesised from starch. This carbon fixation in plants is the main reason behind trees gaining weight.

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