8.2 Water Uptake

• Root hair cells absorb water and minerals from the soil.
• Root hairs have an elongated shape for a larger surface area, which increases the water absorption rate by osmosis and ions by active transport.
• The large surface area of root hairs is crucial as it increases the uptake of water and mineral ions.
• Water enters root hair cells from moist soil via osmosis because water potential is higher in soil than in the cytoplasm. Water enters into the root cortex cells, xylem, and lastly, the mesophyll cells.