# Explain how water moves from the soil into a plant root and then through the plant to the leaves, where it is lost to the atmosphere.

> Edexcel A-Level Biology A: Salters-Nuffield (9BN0) — 2.4 Plant structure and function · Explain · 5 marks

> Plants continuously absorb water from the soil and lose water vapour through their leaves. This movement of water through a plant is essential for many life processes.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Water enters root hair cells by osmosis
2. Water moves across the root cortex towards the xylem (by osmosis / from cell to cell)
3. Water travels up the plant through xylem vessels
4. Water evaporates from the leaf cells and diffuses out through the stomata (transpiration)
5. The loss of water from the leaves (transpiration) creates a transpiration stream / pulls more water up from the roots

## Related

- [Revision notes for Edexcel A-Level Biology A: Salters-Nuffield (9BN0)](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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