Life Processes

Class 10 Science • Chapter 6

Chapter Overview

This chapter explains the essential maintenance processes carried out by living organisms. It covers nutrition, respiration, transportation and excretion in plants and animals, along with important structures and mechanisms involved in these processes.

📘 Complete Notes

Detailed notes covering nutrition, respiration, transportation and excretion in plants and humans.

❓ Important Questions

Exam-focused conceptual, reasoning and competency-based questions.

📝 Previous Year Questions

Official CBSE paper resources and chapter-focused practice material.

Topics Covered

Life Processes

Nutrition

Autotrophic Nutrition

Heterotrophic Nutrition

Photosynthesis

Stomata

Nutrition in Human Beings

Human Digestive System

Respiration

Aerobic Respiration

Anaerobic Respiration

Human Respiratory System

Alveoli

Transportation

Blood

Human Heart

Double Circulation

Arteries, Veins and Capillaries

Lymph

Transportation in Plants

Xylem

Phloem

Transpiration

Translocation

Excretion

Human Excretory System

Nephron

Urine Formation

Dialysis

Excretion in Plants

Quick Revision

Life processes are essential maintenance activities required for survival.
Plants prepare food by photosynthesis.
Respiration releases usable energy from food.
Alveoli are the main sites of gas exchange in the lungs.
Blood transports gases, nutrients and other substances.
The heart pumps blood through pulmonary and systemic circulation.
Xylem mainly transports water and minerals.
Phloem transports food and other organic solutes.
Nephrons are the structural and functional units of the kidneys.
Excretion removes metabolic waste products from the body.

Major Life Processes

Life Process	Main Function
Nutrition	Obtaining and utilising food and nutrients.
Respiration	Releasing usable energy from food.
Transportation	Moving materials to and from different body parts.
Excretion	Removing metabolic wastes.

Important Equations

6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

Photosynthesis

C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + Energy

Aerobic respiration

C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH + 2CO₂ + Energy

Alcoholic fermentation in yeast

Official Study Sources

Students should also refer to the official NCERT textbook and current CBSE Academic resources.

NCERT – Life Processes Official PDF → NCERT Official Textbooks → CBSE Academic Curriculum 2026-27 → CBSE Assessment Resources →