Animal and Plant Cells Answers

A vacuole is used for temporary storage of water, waste products, food, and cellular material. Plants take in large amounts of water and need a place to store the water. Vacuoles are larger in plant cells than animal cells to store the water and other materials needed by the cell.

Chloroplasts capture energy from the Sun and convert it into chemical energy (food) for the plant through the process of photosynthesis. They also contain chlorophyll, which gives the plant its green color.

The cell membrane and cell wall both serve as protective barriers for the cell. All cells possess a cell membrane, which is a selectively permeable phospholipid bilayer that regulates the passage of substances into and out of the cell. In contrast, only certain cells, such as plant cells, have a cell wall. The cell wall is a rigid outer layer made of cellulose that provides structural support and maintains the cell's shape, which is especially important for plants to stand upright.