Describe what happens to the leaves at night.?

Question

Can someone pleaseee tell me the answer to this question?? I know something does happen, but I just can't find a "proper" way to answer the question. There's also "Describe what happens to the leaves during the day."

Thank you sooooo much,
Asian Pranksta

Answer 1

You seem to have put some thought into this question, so I'll give you some help, but I guarantee that the answer is in your textbook. Perhaps it's just not explained very well.

Unlike animals, plants have two methods of generating energy. The first method is called photoysnthesis, a chemical process which generates energy from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. During the daytime, when there is plenty of sunlight, photosynthesis provdes the plant with its energy needs. The leaves, the sites at which photosynthesis occur, take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

At night, there is no sunlight, so the plant cannot carry out photosynthesis. At night, the plant meets its energy requirements by the same method as do animals, a process called aerobic respiration, in which energy is generated from sugar and oxygen. So at night, gas exchange through the leaves is the opposite of what it was during the daytime. The leaves take in oxygen to drive aerobic respiration and give off carbon dioxide as a waste product.

Now that you know the answer, look in your textbook again, and see if you can't find the answer. Perhaps it won't be spelled out so clearly, but I'm sure that it's there.

Answer 2

Here's the big difference in most leaves:

Day:
Leaves get sunlight and carry on photosynthesis. This process requires carbon dioxide. The leaf has many tiny pores called stomata that open to let the carbon dioxide in. Oxygen and water vapor go out through the open stomata. Stomata are opened and closed by pairs of guard cells.

Night:
Leaves do not get sunlight, so they do not carry on photosynthesis. The stomata are closed so the plant doesn't lose water unnecessarily.