Thoroughly dried dead plant material is 44.4 percent oxygen by weight. How is this oxygen held in the plant so that it doesn't escape into the atmosphere?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Thoroughly dried dead plant material has undergone chemical changes that cause the oxygen to be bound to the cellulose structure rather than existing as a gas. This is because the drying process removes water, which is needed to keep oxygen in a gaseous state. So, option C is the correct answer. Option A is not correct as cellulose micropores do not have the ability to hold oxygen in the form of gas. Option B is also incorrect as oxygen is not found in the plant as carbon dioxide. Option D is incorrect as photosynthesis is the process by which plants produce oxygen, not how they hold it in their tissues.

Thoroughly Dried Dead Plant Material Is 44