CBSE · Class 10 · Science · Chapter 6

Life
Processes

Complete chapter resources for CBSE Class 10 Science — topic breakdown, key concepts, sample questions, previous year board questions, and instant AI question paper generation.

5Topics
6–8Board marks
8Sample questions
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Key Concepts — Chapter 6
  • Photosynthesis: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ (light energy)
  • Aerobic respiration: C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + 38 ATP
  • Anaerobic (yeast): Glucose → Ethanol + CO₂
  • Anaerobic (muscle): Glucose → Lactic acid
  • Blood components: Plasma · RBC · WBC · Platelets
  • Excretion unit: Nephron — filtration → reabsorption → urine
Chapter Overview

What this chapter covers

Life Processes (NCERT Class 10 Science, Chapter 6) examines the fundamental biological processes that all living organisms must carry out to survive — nutrition, respiration, transportation, and excretion. The chapter distinguishes autotrophic nutrition (photosynthesis in plants) from heterotrophic nutrition (ingestion and digestion in animals), explaining the role of enzymes, the structure of the human digestive system, and the significance of stomata in gas exchange.

Respiration is treated at both the cellular and organismal level. The chapter contrasts aerobic respiration — which completely oxidises glucose to CO₂ and water — with anaerobic pathways in yeast (fermentation) and muscle cells (lactic acid formation). Transportation in plants covers the roles of xylem and phloem, while the circulatory system section explains the structure of the human heart, the double-circulation model, blood composition, and the role of lymph.

Excretion covers the structure and function of the human excretory system, focusing on the nephron as the structural unit of the kidney. Plant excretion — through stomata, bark, and storage in vacuoles — is also included. Board questions frequently involve diagram labelling (heart, nephron, leaf cross-section), short-answer comparisons (aerobic vs. anaerobic, xylem vs. phloem), and process-description questions worth 3–5 marks.

Topics

What's inside Chapter 6

As per NCERT Class 10 Science (CBSE syllabus)

Topic 1
Nutrition
Autotrophic nutrition (photosynthesis — raw materials, equation, chloroplast role) and heterotrophic nutrition (human digestive system: mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, associated glands).
Topic 2
Respiration
Breakdown of glucose — aerobic (complete oxidation, 38 ATP) vs. anaerobic (fermentation in yeast, lactic acid in muscles). Human respiratory system: nasal cavity, trachea, bronchi, alveoli and gaseous exchange.
Topic 3
Transportation in Plants
Xylem (water and minerals, root pressure, transpiration pull) and phloem (translocation of food, source-to-sink model). Differences in structure and direction of transport.
Topic 4
Transportation in Animals
Human circulatory system: four-chambered heart, double circulation (pulmonary + systemic), arteries vs. veins vs. capillaries, blood composition (plasma, RBC, WBC, platelets), and the lymphatic system.
Topic 5
Excretion
Human excretory system: kidneys, nephron structure and function (ultrafiltration, reabsorption, urine formation), ureter, urinary bladder. Plant excretion via stomata, bark, and vacuoles.
Connections

How this chapter fits in

Useful for setting question difficulty and cross-chapter papers.

Builds on
Class 9 · Ch 5 · The Fundamental Unit of Life
Cell structure, organelles (mitochondria, chloroplast), cell membrane
Class 9 · Ch 6 · Tissues
Xylem and phloem tissue types; epithelial and muscle tissue
Chapter 6 Life
Processes
Leads to
Ch 8 · How Do Organisms Reproduce?
Nutrition and transport support reproductive structures and growth
Class 11 · Biology · Plant & Animal Physiology
Detailed enzyme kinetics, cardiac cycle, kidney hormonal regulation
Board Blueprint

Marks & question-type breakdown

Typical pattern based on CBSE Class 10 Science board papers from the last five years.

Question type Marks Typical count What's usually tested
MCQ / Objective 1 1–2 Identify the site of photosynthesis, name a product of anaerobic respiration, or pick the correct blood vessel
Very Short Answer 2 1 Define photosynthesis or differentiate arteries from veins in one-two sentences
Short Answer 3 1 Explain the process of urine formation, compare aerobic and anaerobic respiration, or describe the role of the alveoli
Long Answer / Diagram 4–5 1 Draw and label the human heart or nephron; describe double circulation or the complete digestive pathway
Total (approximate) 6–8 4–5 Weightage varies across paper sets and years
Sample Questions

8 sample questions — generated by MarksZen AI

Aligned to CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6. Covers all question types across Easy, Medium, and Hard difficulty.

Q1 Easy 1 mark MCQ
The raw materials required for photosynthesis are: (a) CO₂ and O₂ (b) H₂O and O₂ (c) CO₂ and H₂O (d) Glucose and O₂
Q2 Easy 2 marks Short Answer
State two differences between arteries and veins.
Q3 Medium 2 marks Short Answer
Write the overall chemical equation for aerobic respiration. How is it different from the equation for anaerobic respiration in yeast?
Q4 Medium 3 marks Short Answer
Explain the process of urine formation in the human kidney. Name the structural and functional unit involved.
Q5 Medium 3 marks Short Answer
How is the small intestine adapted for absorption of digested food? Mention any three structural adaptations.
Q6 Hard 4 marks Diagram-Based
Draw a neat diagram of the human heart and label the following parts: right atrium, left ventricle, pulmonary artery, aorta, and the bicuspid valve. Indicate with arrows the direction of blood flow through the heart.
Q7 Hard 5 marks Long Answer
Describe the process of photosynthesis with a balanced chemical equation. Explain the role of (i) chlorophyll, (ii) sunlight, and (iii) stomata. Why do leaves appear green?
Q8 Hard 5 marks Long Answer
Explain double circulation in humans. Why is it necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood? Name the two circuits involved and trace the path of blood through each circuit.
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Previous Year Questions

From CBSE board examinations

Actual questions from past Class 10 Science board papers — Life Processes chapter.

Board 20223 marks
What is double circulation? Explain why it is necessary in human beings. (CBSE All India 2022)
Board 20232 marks
State the role of (i) hydrochloric acid and (ii) mucus in the stomach during digestion of food. (CBSE Delhi 2023)
Board 20205 marks
Draw a labelled diagram of the human excretory system. Describe the process of urine formation in the kidneys. (CBSE All India 2020)
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FAQ

Questions teachers ask

How many marks does Life Processes carry in the CBSE Class 10 board exam? +
Life Processes typically carries 6–8 marks in the CBSE Class 10 Science board exam, spread across 2–3 questions. It is one of the highest-weightage chapters in the Biology section and has appeared in every board paper for the past several years, usually featuring a diagram-based question on the human digestive system or the nephron.
Which diagrams from Life Processes are most important for the board exam? +
The four diagrams most frequently asked in CBSE board exams from this chapter are: (1) the human digestive system with labels, (2) the cross-section of a leaf showing stomata and the pathway of gases, (3) the human heart showing four chambers and the direction of blood flow, and (4) the structure of a nephron. Students should practise labelling all parts accurately.
What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration in CBSE terms? +
Aerobic respiration occurs in the presence of oxygen and breaks down glucose completely into carbon dioxide and water, releasing 38 ATP. Anaerobic respiration occurs without oxygen — in yeast it produces ethanol and CO2 (fermentation), while in muscles it produces lactic acid. CBSE board questions frequently ask students to write the equations for both types and state where anaerobic respiration occurs in the human body.
What is the role of the nephron and how is it tested in CBSE exams? +
The nephron is the structural and functional unit of the kidney. It filters blood through the glomerulus, reabsorbs useful substances in the tubules, and passes urine to the collecting duct. CBSE board questions typically ask students to draw and label the nephron, trace the path of urine formation, or explain the process of filtration and reabsorption. It is a 3–5 mark question in most years.
How do I generate a custom question paper for Life Processes using MarksZen? +
Sign up for a free MarksZen account, choose CBSE Class 10 Science, select Chapter 6 (Life Processes), set your preferred question-type mix (MCQ, short answer, diagram-based, long answer) and total marks — the AI generates a complete board-aligned paper with answer key in under 2 minutes, ready for PDF export.