Notes: Chapter:01 Gaseous Exchange
SUMMARY
Gaseous exchange is the process of swapping(Exchange) oxygen and carbon dioxide between an organism
and its environment.
In Humans:
Oxygen (O₂) from the air enters the lungs, passes into the blood through the alveoli.
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the blood passes into the alveoli to be breathed out.
In Plants
Definition:
Gaseous exchange in plants is the process where oxygen (O₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) move in and
out of the plant body, mainly through stomata.
Stomata Function:
Tiny pores on leaf surface
Guard cells open/close the pores
Control gas exchange and water loss (transpiration)
Key points about gaseous exchange in plant
Plants take in oxygen (O₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air.
This process is called gaseous exchange.
It happens mostly through tiny holes on leaves called stomata.
Stomata are mostly found under the leaves.
Each stomata has two guard cells that open and close the hole.
In daytime, stomata are open to take in CO₂ for photosynthesis.
In night, stomata close to save water.
Lenticels on stems also help in gas exchange in woody plants.
Root hairs take gases from air in the soil.
Gases move in and out by diffusion (a natural movement – no energy used).
In photosynthesis, plants take CO₂ and release O₂.
In respiration, plants take O₂ and release CO₂.
Photosynthesis happens only when there is light.
Respiration happens all the time (day and night).
In bright sunlight, plants make more O₂ than they use, so O₂ goes out.
At night, plants only use O₂ and release CO₂.
When guard cells are full of water, stomata open.
When guard cells lose water, stomata close.
Leaves have air spaces inside to help gases move easily.
If stomata stay open too long, the plant can lose too much water.
Gaseous Exchange process in Plants – Step by Step
☀️During Daytime (Photosynthesis time):
1. Stomata open
– Tiny pores on leaves (called stomata) open during the day.
2. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) enters
– CO₂ from the air goes into the leaf through stomata.
3. Oxygen (O₂) leaves the leaf
– During photosynthesis, the plant makes oxygen, which goes out through stomata.
4. Gases move by diffusion
– CO₂ and O₂ move naturally from high to low concentration (no energy used).
5. CO₂ goes to leaf cells
– CO₂ reaches the chloroplasts inside leaf cells for food-making.
🌙 During Night (Only Respiration):
6. Stomata mostly close
– To save water, stomata close at night (but small exchange still happens).
7. Oxygen enters
– Plant takes in oxygen from the air for respiration.
8. Carbon dioxide leaves
– CO₂ is made during respiration and goes out through stomata.
📍 Other Places Where It Happens:
9. Through lenticels
– On stems of woody plants, lenticels allow gases to move in and out.
10. Through root hairs
– Roots take in O₂ from air in the soil and release CO₂.
Key Points: Gaseous Exchange in Animals
Gaseous exchange in animals means taking in oxygen (O₂) and giving out carbon dioxide (CO₂).
It is needed for respiration, which gives energy to the body.
It happens mostly in lungs, gills, or skin, depending on the animal.
In humans and mammals, gaseous exchange happens in the lungs.
Inside lungs, there are tiny air sacs called alveoli.
Alveoli have thin walls and many blood vessels.
Oxygen passes from alveoli into the blood.
Carbon dioxide passes from the blood into the alveoli to go out.
This gas movement happens by diffusion (natural movement, no energy needed).
In fish, gaseous exchange happens in the gills.
In insects, it happens through spiracles and tracheae (tiny tubes).
In frogs, it happens through lungs, skin, and mouth lining.
Skin breathing is possible in animals like frogs and earthworms.
All exchange surfaces are thin, moist, and have lots of blood supply.
Oxygen is carried by red blood cells using hemoglobin.
Animals breathe faster during exercise to get more oxygen.
Carbon dioxide is a waste gas and must be removed quickly.
Gaseous exchange is a part of the respiratory system.
Animals need continuous exchange of gases to stay alive.
Bad exchange (like in lung diseases) can cause breathing problems.
Respiration and photosynthesis require an exchange of gases.
Respiration takes place in all living organisms.
Photosynthesis occurs in green parts of plants.
is given out while in photosynthesis, During respiration, oxygen is used and carbon dioxide is given
carbon dioxide is used and oxygen is given out.
In terrestrial plants, most of the exchange of gases occurs through minute openings, stomata.
The animals use either their body surface, or some internal surface for the exchange of gases.
The Respiratory surface must be thin, wet, permeable and large in relation to the volume of
organism.
The respiratory surface of man is alveoli present in lungs.
Both lungs have millions of alveoli.
Air passage ways lead the atmospheric air to alveoli.
Air pollution causes number of respiratory problems.
Clean air is essential for better respiratory health.
Gaseous Exchange in Animals – Step by Step
In Humans (Lungs):
1. Breathing In (Inhalation):
You breathe in air through your nose or mouth.
2. Air travels down:
Air passes through trachea → bronchi → bronchioles → alveoli (tiny air sacs in lungs).
3. Oxygen (O₂) enters alveoli:
Air reaches alveoli, which are full of fresh oxygen.
4. Oxygen diffuses into blood:
O₂ moves from alveoli into blood capillaries (tiny blood vessels).
5. Oxygen goes to cells:
O₂ is carried by red blood cells to all parts of the body.
6. Cells use oxygen:
Cells use O₂ in respiration to make energy.
7. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is produced:
Respiration creates CO₂ as a waste gas.
8. CO₂ moves into blood:
CO₂ travels from cells into blood and comes back to the lungs.
9. CO₂ enters alveoli:
In lungs, CO₂ moves from blood into alveoli.
10. Breathing Out (Exhalation):
CO₂ is pushed out of the body through the bronchi → trachea → nose/mouth.
IN AIR 21% Oxygen. For terrstial living organisms
In water 5% oxygen. For equatic living organisms
HUMAN
INHALE: 78% OF N2, 21% OF O2, O.O3% OF CO2
EXHALE: 78% OF N2, 16% OF O2,4% OF CO2
