NCERT Class 10 Science Chapter 5, titled 'Life Processes,' provides an in-depth exploration of fundamental biological concepts. This chapter covers essential topics such as What are Life Processes?, Nutrition, Respiration, Transportation, and Excretion. Beginning with an introduction to life processes in section 5.1, it elaborates on these critical functions in sections 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, and 5.5. For students seeking clarity and deeper understanding, the Class 10 Science NCERT Solutions for Chapter 5 offer detailed explanations and guidance. Mastering these concepts from the 'Life Processes Class 10 NCERT' chapter is crucial for success in the exams, ensuring a strong foundation in biology.
ALLEN's experts have thoughtfully crafted the Class 10 Life processes solutions to enhance students' problem-solving skills. To gain a clearer understanding of the Life Processes NCERT solutions, students can download the below NCERT class 10 Science chapter 5 pdf solution.
What are Life Processes?
If an organism is alive, it must keep repairing and maintaining its structures. The maintenance functions of living organisms must go on even when they are not doing anything particular. The processes which together perform this maintenance job are called life processes.
Nutrition
Nutrition is the process of intake of nutrients (like carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins and water) by an organism as well as the utilization of these nutrients by the organism.
Respiration
Respiration is the process by which the food taken through nutrition gets oxidized to release energy for various activities.
Transportation
In unicellular organisms a single cell carries out all the life processes as the cell itself is the organism. In advanced forms like the few-celled algae, protozoa, sponges, etc., the size of the organism ensures that all the cells are not very far from each other. The uptake of materials from the environment is through the general body surface and the transport within the cells is by diffusion.
Excretion
Excretion is the biological process by which living organisms remove waste products that are produced from their metabolic activities (like respiration and digestion) to maintain a stable internal environment.
Also Read: CBSE Notes For Class 10 Science Chapter 5 Life Process
1. What are the differences between autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic nutrition?
Ans.
2. Where do plants get each of the raw materials required for photosynthesis?
Ans. (i) CO₂ - from air through stomata.
(ii) Water - from soil through roots.
3. What is the role of acid in our stomach?
Ans. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a component of gastric juice. It has five functions:
(i) Softening of food.
(ii) Conversion of pepsinogen and prorennin into active forms of pepsin and rennin.
(iii) Acidify the food for proper action of pepsin.
(iv) Killing of microorganisms present in food.
(v) Stoppage of action of salivary amylase.
4. What is the function of digestive enzymes?
Ans. Digestive enzymes are hydrolytic enzymes which bring about hydrolytic splitting of complex organic substances into simple, soluble, and absorbable substances, e.g.,
Protein → (Enzyme) → Peptides → (Enzyme) → Amino acids
5. How is the small intestine designed to absorb digested food?
Ans. The inner lining of the small intestine has millions of tiny finger-like projections called villi. Villi are transverse folds of the intestine wall that not only increase the surface area but also reach deep into the lumen of the intestine for the absorption of digested food. Villi possess blood capillaries and lacteals (lymph vessels) for the quick transport of absorbed food.
6. The autotrophic mode of nutrition is required.
(a) Carbon dioxide and water
(b) Chlorophyll
(c) Sunlight
(d) All of the above
Ans. (d) All of the above
7. How are fats digested in our bodies? Where does this process take place?
Ans. Bile juice (from the liver) provides an alkaline medium and emulsifies fats (conversion of larger fat globules into smaller fat droplets), but it is a non-enzymatic digestive juice, so it has no chemical action on food. Pancreatic juice (from the pancreas) contains the pancreatic lipase enzyme, which digests the emulsified fats into fatty acids and glycerol, respectively.
Fats → (Pancreatic lipase) → Glycerol + Fatty acid
This process takes place in the small intestine.
8. What is the role of saliva in the digestion of food?
Ans. Salivary glands secrete saliva, which contains a digestive enzyme called ptyalin or salivary amylase that breaks down starch.
Starch → (Saliva Amylase) → Maltose + Dextrin
9. What are the necessary conditions for autotrophic nutrition, and what are its byproducts?
Ans.Necessary conditions for autotrophic nutrition:
(1) Sunlight
(2) Photosynthetic pigment (e.g., chlorophyll)
(3) Carbon dioxide
(4) Water
Its byproducts:
(1) Glucose
(2) Water
(3) Oxygen
1. What advantage over an aquatic organism does a terrestrial organism have with regard to obtaining oxygen for respiration?
Ans. Air contains about 21% of oxygen while water has less than 1% oxygen in dissolved state. A terrestrial organism is able to get several times more oxygen than an aquatic organism in one breath.
2. What are the different ways in which glucose is oxidised to provide energy in various organisms?
Ans. Different ways in which glucose is oxidised to provide Energy in various organisms -
(i) Aerobic respiration: It is a process in which complete breakdown of food (glucose) into carbon dioxide and water in the presence of oxygen and energy is released.
(ii) Anaerobic respiration: It is partial breakdown of food (glucose) without using molecular oxygen, the respiration is called anaerobic respiration. In this type of respiration very less amount of energy is produced. It also includes glycolysis which takes place in the cytoplasm. During this process one molecule of glucose is degraded into two molecules of pyruvic acid (pyruvate) and little energy (2 ATP) is produced. The pyruvic acid is further broken down into two different manners:
(i) Fermentation
(ii) Anaerobic respiration in muscle cells
(a) Fermentation
[Alcoholic Fermentation] : It is a kind of anaerobic respiration in which the microorganisms (yeast) break down glucose into ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide and energy (2 ATP) is released.
Glucose --(No O2 required)--> 2(Ethanol) + 2CO2 + 2ATP
(6 carbon molecule) (yeast) (cytoplasm) (2 carbon molecules)
(b) Anaerobic respiration in muscle cells [Lactic acid fermentation]:
Human muscle cells make ATP by lactic acid fermentation when oxygen is scarce. This occurs at the time of vigorous exercise, when the demand for oxygen by the muscles is greater than its supply. Therefore, the muscles switch from aerobic respiration to fermentation, resulting in the production of lactic acid. This lactic acid accumulates in the muscles, causing cramps or muscle fatigue.
3. How is oxygen and carbon dioxide transported in human beings?
Answer:
During inhalation, oxygen enters the alveoli of the lungs. The alveoli are surrounded by very thin blood vessels called capillaries. The oxygen is then carried by the blood to all parts of the body by binding with hemoglobin present in the red blood cells.
The blood circulates through the tissues of the body, and the oxygen present in it diffuses into the cells due to its higher concentration in the blood compared to the cells. This oxygen combines with the digested food present in the cells to release energy through the process of respiration.
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is produced as a waste product during respiration in the cells of the body tissues. This CO₂ diffuses into the blood due to its higher concentration in the body tissues compared to the blood. The blood carries the CO₂ back to the lungs, where it diffuses into the alveoli. From the alveoli, the CO₂ passes into the trachea (windpipe), then through the nostrils, and finally out of the body into the air during exhalation.
CO₂ is more soluble in water than oxygen and is therefore mostly transported in the dissolved form within the blood plasma.
The exchange of gases can be summarized as follows:
Air ⇌ Nostril ⇌ Windpipe ⇌ Bronchi ⇌ Lungs
⇌ Alveoli ⇌ Blood
⇌ Tissue
4. How are the lungs designed in human beings to maximize the area for exchange of gases?
Ans. Lungs are soft, spongy structures located in the thoracic cavity. Each lung is enclosed in a double-walled sac called pleura. In the lungs, the air passage (wind pipe) divides into smaller tubes called bronchi which in turn form bronchioles. The bronchioles later terminate in balloon-like structures called alveoli. The presence of alveoli in the lungs provides a very large area for the exchange of gases and this availability of large surface area maximizes the exchange of gases. The alveoli have very thin walls and contain an extensive network of blood vessels to facilitate exchange of gases.
5. The breakdown of pyruvate to give carbon dioxide water and energy takes place in -
(a) Cytoplasm
(b) Chloroplast
(c) Mitochondria
(d) Nucleus
Ans. (c) Mitochondria
6. What are the differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration? Name some organisms that use the anaerobic mode of respiration.
Ans.
Yeast & most of the bacteria use the anaerobic mode of respiration.
7. How are the alveoli designed to maximize the exchange of gases?
Ans. Alveoli designed to maximize the exchange of gases because of
(i) Large surface area to get enough oxygen.
(ii) Thin permeable membrane for easy diffusion of gases.
(iii) Abundant blood supply for transporting respiratory gases.
1. Describe the structure and functioning of nephron.
Ans.
Structure of Nephron: Nephron is the structural and functional unit of the kidney.
(i) It consists of a long-coiled tubule divided into proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle and distal convoluted tubule. The distal convoluted tubule opens into the collecting duct.
(ii) At the proximal end of the nephron lies a double-walled cup-shaped structure called Bowman's capsule.
(iii) The Bowman's capsule contains a bundle of blood-capillaries which is called glomerulus.
(iv) In the glomerulus, the blood that comes in through afferent arteriole is drained out after filtration through efferent arteriole.
The function of nephron is formation of urine which takes place in three stages.
(i) Filtration: Filtration of blood takes place in Bowman's capsule from the capillaries of glomerulus. This takes place under high pressure. The filtrate passes into the tubular part of the nephron. This filtrate contains glucose, amino acids, urea, uric acid, salts and major amount of water.
(ii) Reabsorption: As the filtrate flows along the tubule useful substances such as glucose, amino acids, salts and water are selectively reabsorbed by renal tubule.
(iii) Tubular secretion: Certain substances which are harmful and not needed by the body like ammonia, potassium, creatinine and hydrogen ions are secreted from the capillary blood into the lumen of distal tubule. This is called tubular secretion.
The fluid entering the collecting tubule is called urine. It flows through the ureters into the urinary bladder where it is stored and discharged from time to time through the urethra.
2. What are the methods used by plants to get rid of excretory products?
Ans. The methods used by plants to get rid of excretory products are -
(i) The oxygen which is produced during the process of photosynthesis gets removed through the stomata.
(ii) The carbon dioxide which is produced during the process of respiration also gets removed through stomata.
(iii) The excess of water gets removed through transpiration.
(iv) Some other wastes get removed along with dead cells when plant lose some parts such as leaves.
(v) Some waste products are stored in cellular vacuoles.
(vi) Some waste products are stored as resins and gums, especially in old xylem.
3. How is the amount of urine produced regulated?
Ans. The amount of urine is regulated by volume of blood and amount of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). ADH is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. Volume of blood is determined by presence or absence of extra water in the body. More blood volume will increase pressure in the glomerulus. It increases the amount of glomerular or nephric filtrate. ADH is not secreted. Dilute urine is allowed to pass through the kidneys. The amount of urine is higher than normal.
In case the body has no extra water or is deficient of water, lesser glomerular filtrate will be produced. ADH is secreted. It helps in reabsorbing a good amount of water from urine. Therefore, only concentrated urine is passed out. The amount of urine is less than normal.
4. The kidneys in human beings are a part of the system for -
(a) Nutrition
(b) Respiration
(c) Excretion
(d) Transportation
Ans. (c) Excretion
5. Compare the functioning of alveoli in the lungs and nephrons in the kidneys with respect to their structure and functioning.
Ans.
1. What are the components of the transport system in human beings? What are the functions of these components?
Ans. The human transport system has two components, the blood vascular system and lymphatic system.
Blood Vascular System- It consists of blood, blood vessels and heart.
2. Heart- It is the pumping organ of the blood vascular system.
3. Blood is made up of plasma and three types of cells - red blood corpuscles, white blood corpuscles and blood platelets.
(a) Blood Plasma-
(i) Helps in transport of nutrients, excretory materials, hormones etc.
(ii) Have antibodies in the form of immunoglobins.
(iii) Prothrombin and fibrinogen proteins required for blood clotting are present in plasma.
(b) Red Blood Corpuscles-Transport of oxygen as oxyhaemoglobin. Also transports some amount of CO2.
(c) White Blood CorpusclesPhagocytosis of germ cells, production of antibodies and histamine.
(d) Blood Platelets-Formation of thromboplastin for blood clotting.
4. Blood Vessels-
(a) Arteries- Transports blood from heart to different body parts.
(b) Veins- Transports blood towards the heart from various body parts.
(c) Capillaries- Exchange of materials between blood and living cells through tissue fluid.
Lymphatic System- It consists -
Lymph
Lymph Vessels
Lymph Nodes
5. Why is it necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in mammals and birds?
Ans. Mammals and birds are warm blooded animals. They constantly use energy to maintain their body temperature. They have higher energy needs and require more oxygenated blood for their cells. It is important that their oxygenated blood does not mix up with deoxygenated blood.
6. What are the components of the transport system in highly organized plants?
Ans. The transport system of highly organized plants consists of xylem and phloem.
(i) Xylem- It is used in transport of water and minerals. Xylem is made of tracheids, vessels, xylem fibres and xylem parenchyma. Tracheids and vessels constitute the tracheary elements or channels for transport of water and minerals.
(ii) Phloem- It is used for transport or translocation of organic solutes or food. Phloem consists of sieve tubes, companion cells, phloem fibres and phloem parenchyma. Sieve tubes constitute the channels for the transport of food materials.
7. How are water and minerals transported in plants?
Ans. In xylem tissue, vessels and tracheids of the roots, stem and leaves are interconnected to form a continuous system of water conducting channels reaching all parts of the plant. The root hairs are directly in contact with the film of water in between the soil particles. Water gets into the root hairs by the process of osmosis. At the roots, cells in contact with the soil actively take up ions. This creates a difference in concentration of these ions between the root and the soil. Water, therefore, moves into the root from the soil. Hence, there is steady movement of water into root xylem, creating a column of water that is steadily pushed upwards. Also, water is lost from the aerial parts of plant (transpiration). Evaporation of water molecules from the cells of the leaf creates a suction which pulls water from the xylem cell of roots (the transpiration pull). Thus, transpiration helps in the absorption and upward movement of water and minerals dissolved in it from roots to the leaves.
8. How is food transported in plants?
Ans. The food manufactured by the leaves of a plant is transported to its other parts through the phloem. The transport of food from the leaves to other parts of the plant is called translocation. The movement of material through phloem depends on the action of living cells called sieve tubes. Food molecules enter the phloem elements or cells from mesophyll cells of the leaf.
Once they enter phloem, they can be transported upwards or downwards to all parts of a plant, including roots. This food is transported to different parts of plant in the form of solution through sieve tubes. The end walls of sieve tubes are connected with each other by perforated sieve plates, forming a continuous passage from root tips to stem tips through which dissolved food substances move freely.
The translocation in phloem is achieved by utilizing energy. Material like sucrose is transferred into phloem tissue using energy from ATP. This increases the osmotic pressure of the tissue causing water to move into it. This pressure moves the material in the phloem to tissue which have less pressure. This allows the phloem to move material according to plant's needs.
9. What are the differences between the transport of materials in xylem and phloem?
Ans.
10. The xylem in plants is responsible for -
(a) transport of water
(b) transport of food
(c) transport of amino acid
(d) transport of oxygen
Ans. (a) transport of water
11. What would be the consequences of a deficiency of haemoglobin in our bodies?
Ans. Haemoglobin is respiratory pigment. It is present in red blood cells. It carries oxygen to all cells of the body. If deficiency of haemoglobin occurs than -
(1) It will cause anemia.
(2) Oxygen carrying capacity of blood will be reduced.
12. Describe double circulation of blood in human beings. Why is it necessary?
Ans. Double circulation
In double circulation, the blood passes twice through the heart to supply once to the body.
(i) Systemic circulation
In this, blood completes its
circulation from left ventricle to right auricle through the body organs.
Oxygenated blood from lungs → left auricle → left ventricle → Aorta → Body parts → Superior vena cava → right auricle.
(ii) Pulmonary circulation
In this, blood completes its circulation from the right ventricle to the left auricle through the lungs.
Deoxygenated blood from body → right auricle → right ventricle → Pulmonary arteries → lungs → Pulmonary veins → left auricle.
The right portion of the heart is known as the pulmonary heart, and it has deoxygenated blood. The left portion of the heart is known as the systemic heart, and it has oxygenated blood.
It is necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. It helps in thermoregulation.
(Session 2025 - 26)