
What is the difference between a macronutrient and a micronutrient?
- a. The size of the atoms
- b. The amount required by the plant
- c. The use by multicellular organisms (macroorganisms) versus microorganisms
- d. The source of the nutrient

Introduction:
Every living organism like plants, humans and animals, all require essential nutrients which are chemical substances important for metabolic reactions, growth, development and reproduction. There are two types of nutrients: micronutrients and macronutrients.
Answer to Problem 1MCQ
Correct answer:
Macronutrients are those nutrients which are required in large amounts and micronutrients are those which required in small amounts. There are total 9 macronutrients like carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen are some of them. There are 7 micronutrients. Chlorine, iron, boron and zinc are some of them. Therefore option (b) is the correct answer.
Explanation of Solution
Reason for the correct statement:
The amount of nutrients required by plants is the basis of differences between macro and micronutrients. The nutrients needed in large amounts by the plants are macronutrients and those required in smaller quantity are micronutrients.
Option (b) is given as “the amount required by the plant”.
As, “amount required by the plant is the basis of difference between a macronutrient and a micronutrient”, is the right answer.
Hence option (b) is correct.
Reasons for the incorrect statements:
Option (a), is given as “the size of the atoms”.
The abundance or quantity of nutrients by the organisms forms the basis of difference between micro and macronutrients and not the size of the atom. Hence, it is a wrong answer.
Option (c), is given as “the use by multicellular organisms (microorganisms) versus microorganisms”.
Micro and macronutrients are used by all the organisms whether they are multicellular or microorganisms and therefore it is not the basis for the difference between micro and macronutrients. Hence, it is a wrong answer.
Option (d), is given as “the source of the nutrient”.
A single source may contain either both micro and macronutrients or may contain only one type of nutrient. Thus, source of nutrient does not make the basis for the difference between micro and macronutrients. Hence, it is a wrong answer.
Hence options (a), (c), and (d), are incorrect.
Macronutrients are those nutrients which are required in large amounts and micronutrients are those which are required in small quantities by the plants.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 23 Solutions
Biology: Concepts and Investigations
- The Snapdragon is a popular garden flower that comes in a variety of colours, including red, yellow, and orange. The genotypes and associated phenotypes for some of these flowers are as follows: aabb: yellow AABB, AABb, AaBb, and AaBB: red AAbb and Aabb: orange aaBB: yellow aaBb: ? Based on this information, what would the phenotype of a Snapdragon with the genotype aaBb be and why? Question 21 options: orange because A is epistatic to B yellow because A is epistatic to B red because B is epistatic to A orange because B is epistatic to A red because A is epistatic to B yellow because B is epistatic to Aarrow_forwardA sample of blood was taken from the above individual and prepared for haemoglobin analysis. However, when water was added the cells did not lyse and looked normal in size and shape. The technician suspected that they had may have made an error in the protocol – what is the most likely explanation? The cell membranes are more resistant than normal. An isotonic solution had been added instead of water. A solution of 0.1 M NaCl had been added instead of water. Not enough water had been added to the red blood cell pellet. The man had sickle-cell anaemia.arrow_forwardA sample of blood was taken from the above individual and prepared for haemoglobin analysis. However, when water was added the cells did not lyse and looked normal in size and shape. The technician suspected that they had may have made an error in the protocol – what is the most likely explanation? The cell membranes are more resistant than normal. An isotonic solution had been added instead of water. A solution of 0.1 M NaCl had been added instead of water. Not enough water had been added to the red blood cell pellet. The man had sickle-cell anaemia.arrow_forward
- With reference to their absorption spectra of the oxy haemoglobin intact line) and deoxyhemoglobin (broken line) shown in Figure 2 below, how would you best explain the reason why there are differences in the major peaks of the spectra? Figure 2. SPECTRA OF OXYGENATED AND DEOXYGENATED HAEMOGLOBIN OBTAINED WITH THE RECORDING SPECTROPHOTOMETER 1.4 Abs < 0.8 06 0.4 400 420 440 460 480 500 520 540 560 580 600 nm 1. The difference in the spectra is due to a pH change in the deoxy-haemoglobin due to uptake of CO2- 2. There is more oxygen-carrying plasma in the oxy-haemoglobin sample. 3. The change in Mr due to oxygen binding causes the oxy haemoglobin to have a higher absorbance peak. 4. Oxy-haemoglobin is contaminated by carbaminohemoglobin, and therefore has a higher absorbance peak 5. Oxy-haemoglobin absorbs more light of blue wavelengths and less of red wavelengths than deoxy-haemoglobinarrow_forwardWith reference to their absorption spectra of the oxy haemoglobin intact line) and deoxyhemoglobin (broken line) shown in Figure 2 below, how would you best explain the reason why there are differences in the major peaks of the spectra? Figure 2. SPECTRA OF OXYGENATED AND DEOXYGENATED HAEMOGLOBIN OBTAINED WITH THE RECORDING SPECTROPHOTOMETER 1.4 Abs < 0.8 06 0.4 400 420 440 460 480 500 520 540 560 580 600 nm 1. The difference in the spectra is due to a pH change in the deoxy-haemoglobin due to uptake of CO2- 2. There is more oxygen-carrying plasma in the oxy-haemoglobin sample. 3. The change in Mr due to oxygen binding causes the oxy haemoglobin to have a higher absorbance peak. 4. Oxy-haemoglobin is contaminated by carbaminohemoglobin, and therefore has a higher absorbance peak 5. Oxy-haemoglobin absorbs more light of blue wavelengths and less of red wavelengths than deoxy-haemoglobinarrow_forwardWhich ONE of the following is FALSE regarding haemoglobin? It has two alpha subunits and two beta subunits. The subunits are joined by disulphide bonds. Each subunit covalently binds a haem group. Conformational change in one subunit can be transmitted to another. There are many variant ("mutant") forms of haemoglobin that are not harmful.arrow_forward
- Which ONE of the following is FALSE regarding haemoglobin? It has two alpha subunits and two beta subunits. The subunits are joined by disulphide bonds. Each subunit covalently binds a haem group. Conformational change in one subunit can be transmitted to another. There are many variant ("mutant") forms of haemoglobin that are not harmful.arrow_forwardDuring a routine medical check up of a healthy man it was found that his haematocrit value was highly unusual – value of 60%. What one of the options below is the most likely reason? He will have a diet high in iron. He is likely to be suffering from anaemia. He lives at high altitude. He has recently recovered from an accident where he lost a lot of blood. He has a very large body size.arrow_forwardExplain what age of culture is most likely to produce an endospore?arrow_forward
- Explain why hot temperatures greater than 45 degrees celsius would not initiate the sporulation process in endospores?arrow_forwardEndospore stain: Consider tube 2 of the 7-day bacillus culture. After is was heated, it was incubated for 24 hours then refrigerated. Do you think the cloudiness in this tube is due mostly to vegetative cells or to endospores? Explain your reasoningarrow_forwardReactunts C6H12O6 (Glucose) + 2NAD+ + 2ADP 2 Pyruvic acid + 2NADH + 2ATP a. Which of the above are the reactants? b. Which of the above are the products? c. Which reactant is the electron donor? GHz 06 (glucose) d. Which reactant is the electron acceptor? NAD e. Which of the products have been reduced? NADH f. Which of the products have been oxidized? g. Which process was used to produce the ATP? h. Where was the energy initially in this chemical reaction and where is it now that it is finished? i. Where was the carbon initially in this chemical reaction and where is it now that it is finished? j. Where were the electrons initially in this chemical reaction and where is it now that it is finished? 3arrow_forward
- Concepts of BiologyBiologyISBN:9781938168116Author:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James WisePublisher:OpenStax CollegeBiology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781337392938Author:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. BergPublisher:Cengage Learning
- Biology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (Mi...BiologyISBN:9781305117396Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa StarrPublisher:Cengage Learning



