NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science Chapter 2 Cell the Building Block of Life (PDF) – 2026-27

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science Chapter 2 Cell the Building Block of Life provide clear, step-by-step answers to every exercise and in-text question from the chapter Cell the Building Block of Life of the NCERT textbook Exploration. Prepared by subject experts as per the latest NCERT (CBSE) syllabus for 2026-27, these NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science help you understand each concept, write exam-ready answers, and check your own solutions. You can read them online below or download the free Class 9 Science Chapter 2 question-answer PDF.

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science Chapter 2 Cell the Building Block of Life

• Class: Class 9
• Subject: Science
• Chapter: Chapter 2 – Cell the Building Block of Life
• Textbook: Exploration (NCERT)
• Study material: NCERT Solutions – questions with answers, free PDF

These solutions answer all the exercise questions of Chapter 2 Cell the Building Block of Life — including the in-text questions, short-answer and long-answer questions, and activities — with complete explanations so you can follow the method, not just the final answer. Read the full solutions below.

NCERT Solutions Class 9 Science Chapter 2 Cell the Building Block of Life View Download

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science Chapter 2 PDF Download

You can read the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science Chapter 2 online above, or download the complete question-answer PDF to study Cell the Building Block of Life offline at any time.

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Questions Covered in This Chapter

These NCERT Solutions answer all 62 questions of this chapter. The questions solved are:

1. Where does a cell come from?
2. How have technological interventions facilitated the creation of new knowledge in understanding the world beyond the naked eye?
3. How is the cell structural and functional unit of life?
4. How does a cell multiply?
5. What do we call the ability of the human eye to see two very close objects as separate and distinct?
6. How have cell biologists studied the structure and function of cells that are much smaller than the limit of resolution of the human eye?
7. Under the microscope, you will see a magnified image of an object. Can you estimate its actual size?
8. Estimate the real size of the cell using the formula: Estimated size of the onion peel cell = Diameter of the visible field in micrometre / Number of cells along the diameter
9. If the estimated size of an onion peel cell is 200 µm, how much does a light microscope magnify this cell?
10. How does the structure of the cell membrane in the cells of alveoli control the movement of substances across it?
11. What do you observe?
12. What do you infer? What do you expect in terms of changes in their weight?
13. …mung bean seeds are kept in a concentrated solution after soaking in water for 12 hours? What will happen to them?
14. …a cell is kept in salt or sugar solutions of different concentrations?
15. Cells of plant, fungi, and bacteria have an additional layer around the cell membrane, called the cell wall. What do you think is the necessity of the cell wall in these cells?
16. Onion peel cells or Rhoeo leaf peel cells are box-shaped and regularly arranged, whereas cheek cells are irregularly arranged. Why do you think this difference exists?
17. Prepare two slides of a Rhoeo leaf peel and human cheek cells again, and put 20 per cent sugar solution on them. Observe them under a microscope after half an hour. What do you observe?
18. What argument would you give for the necessity of a cell wall in plants usually fixed in one place versus in animals usually moving from one place to the other?
19. What consequences would you predict for a plant cell if its cell wall were to become as flexible as a cell membrane?
20. Why is it important to cut the two potato pieces in roughly equal size and measure their initial weight before placing them in different liquids?
21. Study the given diagrams of a bacterial cell, a plant cell, and an animal cell (Fig. 2.10a, b and c). Observe the different structures present in each of them. Record your observations in Table 2.1.
22. Which of the cells given in Fig. 2.10 fall under the categories of prokayotic and eukaryotic cells?
23. Mature Red Blood Cells (RBCs) in humans do not have a nucleus (enucleate). Do you know any other cells without nucleus?
24. Cells produce waste materials and damaged, worn-out organelles during their activities. How does the cell prevent these wastes from accumulating inside it?
25. Animals can obtain food from their surroundings, however, plants synthesise food in the presence of sunlight. But where do plants synthesise their food and obtain energy for cellular activities?
26. Are there any other plastids in plant cells that contain any pigments other than the green pigments?
27. How do flowers, fruits, and vegetables acquire varied colours?
28. But where are water, minerals, and waste materials stored in the cell?
29. Why do plants look wilted when they do not get enough water?
30. Do white flowers contain any pigment? Give reasons.
31. Draw a well-labelled schematic diagram of a plant or an animal cell using these clues — (i) Nucleus appears as a dark and round body inside the cell. (ii) ER spreads like a network of extended nuclear envelope. (iii) Mitochondria and chloroplasts are rod shaped. You may refer to Fig. 2.10.
32. When you get a small cut on your skin, it heals after a few days. When hair fall out, new hair grow back. How does this happen?
33. Leave the setup for 5–6 days and observe. Do you observe the roots growing?
34. What do you observe? Do you observe the cells of the onion root tip? Are they similar in structure? Do you find any structural differences in these cells? If yes, why is it so?
35. Fig. 2.17 shows various stages of cell division. Can you identify which stage comes first during cell division?
36. Instead of many small ones, why does a cell not have a single giant mitochondrion? How does this relate to the concept of surface area?
37. If the skin cells start dividing by meiosis instead of mitosis, what do you think will happen to a cut on the skin?
38. How do cancer cells grow and spread?
39. How do cells monitor their growth to maintain a balance?
40. Explore different ways by which cells maintain themselves.
41. Differentiate between the following pairs of terms based on the clues given in parentheses: (i) Cell membrane and cell wall (permeability) (ii) RER and SER (structure) (iii) Chloroplasts and chromoplasts (pigments)
42. Two similar animal cells are placed in two different solutions: Cell X is placed in pure water. Cell Y is placed in a concentrated salt solution. Cells are observed after some time. Cell X swells, and Cell Y shrinks. Which statement provides the correct explanation for the above observations? (i) Salt molecules moved into Cell Y, causing it to shrink. (ii) Water moved into Cell X and more water moved out of Cell Y than the salt solution entered in it. (iii) Water moved into Cell X and moved out of Cell Y through the cell membrane. (iv) Solute movement caused osmosis in both cells.
43. Look at the diagram of a cell in Fig. 2.20. Identify the parts labelled from (a) to (g) and correctly match them with their functions given below: (i) Controlling all the activities of a cell. (ii) Site of cellular respiration. (iii) Storage organelle that also provides rigidity to the cell. (iv) Separates the cell contents from surroundings. (v) Provides structural rigidity to the cell. (vi) Packs and stores materials received from ER. (vii) Helps in manufacturing food.
44. Which of the following option(s) of the pairs of cell organelles are correctly placed under the given categories? (i) Leucoplast / Cell wall (ii) Mitochondria / Ribosome (iii) Cell wall / Golgi apparatus (iv) Lysosome / Endoplasmic reticulum — the first column being ‘Present in the plant cells’ and the second ‘Absent in the animal cells’.
45. Two students, Renu and Rohit, were having a discussion on the plastids. Renu emphasised that all parts of the plants, even roots, contain plastids. However, Rohit did not agree with the statement and told her that plastids are absent in plant roots since the roots are underground and do not need to perform photosynthesis. Who is correct? Justify your answer.
46. Mitochondria and chloroplasts are two important organelles in a plant cell. Discuss how these two organelles are structurally and functionally similar to each other, and different from each other.
47. Which of the following pairs of cell organelles contains DNA? (i) Chloroplasts, Ribosomes (ii) Mitochondria, Nucleus (iii) Golgi bodies, Ribosomes (iv) Nucleus, Lysosomes
48. A researcher carried out an experiment in which she took two carrots of similar size. She placed one carrot in plain water and the other carrot in concentrated salt solution (Fig. 2.21). After 24 hours she recorded her observations. (i) What hypothesis does she want to test through this experiment? (ii) What would you suggest for the improvement of this experiment? (iii) Why does the carrot in plain water stay stiff and crunchy, but the carrot in concentrated salt solution become rubbery and limp?
49. Indicate the presence or absence of following structures in bacterial and animal cells: Chromosome, Nucleus, Mitochondria, Golgi complex, Chromoplasts.
50. Carry out the following experiment: Take four peeled potato halves and scoop each one out to make potato cups. One of these potato cups should be made from a boiled potato. Place each of the potato cups in a beaker containing water (Fig. 2.22). Keep Cup A empty; add one teaspoon sugar in Cup B; add one teaspoon salt in Cup C; add one teaspoon sugar in the boiled potato in Cup D. Observe the four potato cups at least two hours and answer the following questions: (i) Explain why water gathers in the hollowed portion of Cup B and Cup C. (ii) Why is Cup A necessary for this experiment? (iii) Explain why water does not gather in the hollowed portions of Cups A and D.
51. Identify the pair that incorrectly matches the cell organelle with its function. (i) Ribosome — Protein synthesis (ii) SER — Lipid and cellulose synthesis (iii) Lysosome — Digestion of foreign agents
52. What outcome do you expect, if all the mitochondria are removed from a eukaryotic cell?
53. Which phenomenon inhibits the formation of tumors in the human body? Can plants also develop tumors? Explain.
54. The cell membrane of a cell is made up of proteins and lipids. Which cell organelles help in the synthesis of cell membrane? Write the path of these compounds from their site of synthesis to the cell membrane and show this through a labelled diagram.
55. What would happen if gametes are formed by mitotic divisions?
56. A farmer, Deepa, was very happy with the harvest of amla (Indian Gooseberry) and lemons on her farm. However, she could sell only one-fourth of the produce in the local market. Recognising that a significant amount of produce may be lost post-harvest, she employed a traditional yet scientifically sound method to extend the shelf life of amla and lemons. She turned perishable produce into profitable products, such as pickles and sharbat. She used the excess produce to prepare pickles, murabbas, and sharbat by adding appropriate amounts of salt, sugar, or jaggery to small pieces of fruit and their juices. These were then stored in small glass bottles for sale, helping her prevent the wastage of post-harvest produce. This shift from farming to agro-processing would strengthen food security and boost the local economy, creating a sustainable model that cuts waste while increasing her income. Based on the above passage answer the following questions: (i) Which scientific concept has the farmer applied in the preservation of the farm produce? (ii) How does the addition of high concentrations of salt and sugar create an environment that prevents the growth of spoilage-causing bacteria and fungi? (iii) Suggest a healthy recipe of this kind for food preservation. (iv) What are the scientific values addressed in this case?
57. Use selected software or digital tools to create animations or simulations of cell division and share them in the class.
58. Create a model of any type of a ‘synthetic cell’ using low-cost eco-friendly material.
59. Build a mitosis or meiosis model with your classmates for your science project or exhibition. How did teamwork contribute to the success of the activity? Did this activity change your perspective or understanding of the cell division topic in any way? If so, explain how?
60. Develop a nukkad natak for community awareness in simple dialogues about the different functions of cell organelles.
61. What is the future of the development of synthetic cells using non-living chemicals?
62. If a synthetic cell is developed, what may be the related ethical issues?

Chapter at a Glance

• The unaided eye resolves about 0.1 mm at its near point of 25 cm. Most plant and animal cells are 10–100 µm across, so a light microscope (typically 10X eyepiece × 10X objective = 100X ) is needed; an electron microscope reaches the nanometre scale.
• The cell membrane is 7–10 nm thick, built of a lipid bilayer with proteins embedded in it — the fluid-mosaic model . It is selectively permeable : water crosses freely, dissolved salt and sugar do not.
• Diffusion is the net movement of particles down a concentration gradient, with or without a membrane. Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane — the reason a potato piece gains weight in plain water and loses it in 20 per cent salt solution.
• Plant, fungal and bacterial cells have a rigid, freely permeable cell wall of cellulose outside the membrane. It stops a plant cell from bursting or collapsing, which is why a plant cell only plasmolyses while an animal cell shrivels.
• Prokaryotic cells (1–10 µm) keep their DNA in a nucleoid and have no membrane-bound organelles. Eukaryotic cells (10–100 µm) have a true nucleus and organelles — nucleus, ER, ribosomes, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, mitochondria, plastids and vacuoles — each doing one job.
• Mitosis gives two daughter cells identical to the parent, for growth and repair. Meiosis is a two-step division in reproductive organs that gives four cells with half the chromosome number, so fertilisation restores the original number and creates variation.
• The Cell Theory (Schleiden 1838, Schwann 1839, Virchow 1855): all organisms are made of cells; the cell is the basic unit of structure and function; all cells arise from pre-existing cells. Normal cells stop dividing on touching neighbours ( contact inhibition ); cancer cells lose that control and form tumours.

How to Download NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science Chapter 2 PDF

Follow these simple steps to get the Cell the Building Block of Life questions-and-answers PDF from Exploration.

1. Search NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science Chapter 2 aglasem and open this page.
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NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science – All Chapters

There are more chapters to study besides Cell the Building Block of Life in Science. Here are the NCERT Solutions for all chapters of Class 9 Science.

• Chapter 1 Exploration Entering the World of Secondary Science
• Chapter 2 Cell the Building Block of Life
• Chapter 3 Tissues in Action
• Chapter 4 Describing Motion Around Us
• Chapter 5 Exploring Mixtures and Their Separation
• Chapter 6 How Forces Affect Motion
• Chapter 7 Work Energy and Simple Machines
• Chapter 8 Journey Inside the Atom
• Chapter 9 Atomic Foundations of Matter
• Chapter 10 Sound Waves Characteristics and Applications
• Chapter 11 Reproduction How Life Continues
• Chapter 12 Patterns in Life Diversity and Classification
• Chapter 13 Earth As a System Energy Matter and Life

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 – All Subjects

Just like Chapter 2 of Science, you can get the exercise questions with answers for every other subject of Class 9. Here are the NCERT Solutions for all subjects of Class 9.

• English
• Hindi
• Maths
• Sanskrit
• Science
• Social Science

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science Chapter 2 – An Overview

The key highlights of this study material are as follows.

Aspects	Details
Class	Class 9
Subject	Science
Chapter Number	Chapter 2
Chapter Name	Cell the Building Block of Life
Book Name	Exploration
Book By	NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training)
Educational Resource Here	NCERT Solutions of Class 9 Science Chapter 2 for all exercises
More Questions Answers of This Subject	NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science
Download Book Chapter	NCERT Book Class 9 Science
All Questions Answers For This Class	NCERT Solutions for Class 9
Complete Solutions	NCERT Solutions

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science Chapter 2 Cell the Building Block of Life – FAQs

What are the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science Chapter 2 Cell the Building Block of Life?

They are the complete, step-by-step answers to all the exercise and in-text questions of Chapter 2 Cell the Building Block of Life from the NCERT Class 9 Science textbook Exploration, written by experts as per the latest NCERT syllabus.

How can I download the Class 9 Science Chapter 2 solutions PDF for free?

Open this page on aglasem, read the Cell the Building Block of Life questions with answers, and click the “Download Solutions PDF” link. The Class 9 Science Chapter 2 NCERT Solutions PDF is completely free to download.

Are these NCERT Solutions as per the latest 2026-27 syllabus?

Yes. The NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science Chapter 2 are based on the latest NCERT textbook Exploration and the current 2026-27 CBSE syllabus, so the questions and answers match what you study in class.

Where can I get NCERT Solutions for the other chapters of Class 9 Science?

You can find the answers to every chapter on the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science page, and solutions for every subject on the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 page.

How do NCERT Solutions help in exam preparation?

They show the correct method to solve each question, help you write answers the way they are expected in exams, let you check and correct your own work, and save revision time — which together improve your marks in Class 9 Science.

If you have any queries on NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science Chapter 2 Cell the Building Block of Life, then please ask in the comments below.