# Explain how water moves from the soil into the xylem of a plant root and then up through the stem to the leaves.

> Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1) — 2.10 Transport: flowering plants · Explain · 4 marks

> Water is transported from the soil to the leaves of a flowering plant through a continuous pathway involving osmosis and the xylem vessels.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Water enters root hair cells from the soil by osmosis / water moves from a more dilute solution (soil water) to a more concentrated solution (root hair cell) across a partially permeable membrane
2. Water passes from cell to cell across the root cortex by osmosis, moving towards the xylem
3. Water travels up the xylem vessels from roots to leaves / xylem transports water through the stem
4. Water is lost from the leaves by transpiration / evaporation of water from the leaves pulls water up the xylem

## Key terms

- [xylem](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/xylem)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-how-water-moves-from-the-26c3b5b2) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.