Plant absorbent consists of -

Options

A. Hydrophobic colloid
B. Hydrophilic colloids
C. Cellulose and pectin
D. lignin like chemical

Answer

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Concept of Absorbents in Plants:**
- Absorbents in plants are materials that can take up water. The term "imbibent" is used to describe solids that can absorb water.

2. **Definition of Imbibition:**
- Imbibition is the process through which solids absorb water. It is essential for various physiological processes in plants.

3. **Characteristics of Imbibents:**
- Imbibents must be hydrophilic, meaning they have an affinity for water. The prefix "hydro" refers to water, and "philic" means loving, indicating that these substances attract water.

4. **Identifying Hydrophilic Colloids:**
- In plants, the primary hydrophilic colloids that act as absorbents are crucial for the process of imbibition. These colloids are capable of absorbing significant amounts of water.

5. **Examples of Strong Imbibents:**
- The strongest known imbibent in plants is agar, which can absorb a large volume of water relative to its own size.

6. **Evaluating the Options:**
- When considering the options provided, we need to identify which materials are capable of absorbing water effectively:
- **Hydrophilic Colloids:** Correct, as they can absorb water.
- **Hydrophobic Substances:** Incorrect, as they repel water and cannot absorb it.
- **Cellulose:** While it can absorb some water, it is not classified as a strong absorbent compared to hydrophilic colloids.
- **Lignin and Suberin:** These are oily substances that do not absorb water effectively.

7. **Conclusion:**
- The correct answer to the question "Plant absorbent consists of" is **hydrophilic colloids**.

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