Schooling · Class 7 · Science · Life Processes in Plants · Chapter on a page
CBSE Class 7 · Science · NCERT Curiosity
Life Processes in Plants: chapter on a page
A cut of Shishya's notes for this chapter: the first paragraph of the introduction and the key ideas, formulas and facts, common mistakes and quick revision lists, word for word. Nothing is added or reworded; the worked examples are left out (they are on the chapter page).
About the notes: Written by Shishya's AI on 26 Sept 2026 from the chapter's title and class level, in Shishya's own words — not a copy or summary of the textbook. Read the official chapter for the book's own text, activities and exercises.
This note's current text has no applied fact-check on record.
Mind map
Drawn from the same notes by a fixed rule (no AI): each label is the item's own words — its bold term, its label before a colon, a short formula as written, or its first words.
The mind map as a list
- Key ideas
- Photosynthesis
- chlorophyll
- oxygen
- roots
- xylem
- respire
- excretion
- Formulas and facts
- Photosynthesis equation in words
- Chlorophyll is the green pigment…
- Stomata are small openings on the…
- Xylem carries water upward from…
- Phloem carries food from leaves to…
- Respiration in plants happens all…
- Transpiration creates a pulling…
- Watch out for
- Thinking plants only respire at night
- Believing plants get food from soil
- Confusing xylem and phloem
- Thinking oxygen is produced during…
- Assuming stomata are only for…
What this chapter is about
Plants are living things, and like all living things, they carry out certain activities to stay alive. These activities are called life processes. This chapter introduces how plants make their own food, take in water and minerals, transport materials inside their body, and get rid of waste.
Key ideas
- Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants make their own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide from air, and water from soil.
- Photosynthesis takes place mainly in leaves because they contain a green pigment called chlorophyll, found in tiny structures called chloroplasts.
- During photosynthesis, plants release oxygen as a by-product, which is essential for most living things to breathe.
- Plants absorb water and dissolved minerals from the soil through their roots, specifically through tiny root hairs.
- Water and minerals move upward through tube-like structures called xylem, while food made in leaves moves to other parts through phloem.
- Plants also respire like animals — they take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide to get energy from food.
- Plants get rid of waste products through their leaves, bark, and by storing some waste in old leaves that fall off. This is called excretion.
- The process of water loss from leaves through tiny pores called stomata is known as transpiration.
Formulas and facts to remember
- Photosynthesis equation in words: Carbon dioxide + Water (in presence of sunlight and chlorophyll) → Glucose + Oxygen
- Chlorophyll is the green pigment that traps sunlight energy.
- Stomata are small openings on the lower surface of leaves that allow gases to enter and exit.
- Xylem carries water upward from roots to leaves.
- Phloem carries food from leaves to other plant parts.
- Respiration in plants happens all the time (day and night), while photosynthesis happens only in sunlight.
- Transpiration creates a pulling force that helps water rise in tall plants and trees.
Common mistakes
- Thinking plants only respire at night → Plants respire continuously, day and night; photosynthesis happens only during the day.
- Believing plants get food from soil → Plants make their own food through photosynthesis; they only absorb water and minerals from soil.
- Confusing xylem and phloem → Xylem carries water upward; phloem carries food in all directions.
- Thinking oxygen is produced during respiration → Oxygen is released during photosynthesis; respiration uses oxygen and releases carbon dioxide.
- Assuming stomata are only for releasing water → Stomata also allow carbon dioxide to enter and oxygen to leave during photosynthesis.
Quick revision
- Photosynthesis = making food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and chlorophyll.
- Chlorophyll in leaves gives them their green colour and traps light energy.
- Xylem moves water up; phloem moves food around.
- Transpiration is water loss from leaves through stomata.
- Respiration in plants happens all the time; photosynthesis needs light.
- Plants excrete waste through leaves, bark, and by shedding old leaves.