In the 17th century, Jan van Helmont performed an experiment to determine how much of the mass gained by a plant came from soil. He grew a willow tree for five years, weighing the soil before and after. The soil lost 0.06 kg of mass, while the tree gained 74.53 kg. What inputs needed by plants were not accounted for in this experiment?
Answers
In his experiment, Jan Van Helmont failed to consider the effect of air and sunlight on plants.
Plants need air for respiration. They respire, taking in oxygen and giving out carbon dioxide.
Plants use sunlight for photosynthesis. In photosynthesis carbon dioxide is taken in and oxygen is given out.
These two actions are important for the plant's survival and growth. But Helmont, failed to consider these elements in his experiment. He concluded only water is needed by plants for growth.
Jan Baptist van Helmont was a Flemish chemist, physiologist, and physician. He worked during the years just after Paracelsus and the rise of iatrochemistry, and is sometimes considered to be "the founder of pneumatic chemistry.
in his experiment, he failed to consider the effect of air and sunlight on plants. Plants need air for respiration. They inhale in oxygen and gives out carbon dioxide.Plants uses sunlight for photosynthesis. In photosynthesis carbon dioxide is inhaled in and oxygen is given out. These two actions are of highly importance for the plant's survival and growth. But Helmont, failed to consider these elements in his experiment. He concluded only water is needed by plants for growth.