Final answer:
Organisms must acquire nutrients and energy to grow, reproduce, and maintain homeostasis. They obtain these through the exchange of matter with their environment, taking in substances they need and expelling waste products.
Step-by-step explanation:
All organisms must acquire certain basic necessities to survive, grow, and reproduce. Two critical things that every organism needs to acquire are nutrients and energy. Nutrients are essential for building the materials that make up the body of an organism, and energy is used to power the various biological processes. For example, humans eat food to obtain nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, as well as energy, which is measured in calories. Plants, on the other hand, often obtain energy from sunlight through a process called photosynthesis and acquire nutrients via their roots from the soil.
Furthermore, the exchange of matter with the environment is vital for maintaining homeostasis, the stable conditions necessary for optimal function of organisms. This exchange can include the uptake of water, oxygen, and other necessary compounds, alongside the removal of waste products resulting from metabolic processes. Therefore, to grow, reproduce, and maintain organization, organisms engage in this constant matter exchange with their surroundings.