Imbibition is the process by which water is absorbed by solids—colloids causing an enormous increase in volume. It is a crucial step in seed germination, where the seed swells and activates the metabolic processes necessary for growth.

Imbibition

Water absorption is the process by which water is taken up by materials, organisms, or surfaces, often influenced by factors such as porosity, permeability, and environmental conditions. This process is crucial in fields like agriculture, construction, and biology, affecting everything from soil moisture levels to the durability of building materials.

Water Absorption

solids

Colloids are mixtures where one substance is dispersed evenly throughout another, with particle sizes between those found in true solutions and suspensions. They exhibit unique properties such as the Tyndall effect, Brownian motion, and stability due to electrostatic interactions or steric effects.

colloids

increase in volume

Seed germination is the process by which a seed develops into a new plant, involving a series of physiological and biochemical changes triggered by environmental conditions such as water, temperature, and light. Successful germination requires the breaking of seed dormancy, activation of metabolic pathways, and the emergence of the radicle as the first sign of growth.

seed germination

Seed swelling

Metabolic processes are the chemical reactions that occur within a living organism to maintain life, involving the conversion of food to energy, building blocks for proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and some carbohydrates, and the elimination of nitrogenous wastes. These processes are divided into catabolic pathways that break down molecules to produce energy and anabolic pathways that use energy to synthesize components of cells and tissues.

metabolic processes

Growth is the process of increasing in physical size, development, or maturity, whether in biological organisms, economies, or personal capabilities. It often involves a complex interplay of factors such as resource availability, environmental conditions, and intrinsic potential, leading to qualitative and quantitative changes over time.

Relevant Degrees

Your Lessons