Which term refers to the movement of a chemical into plants, animals, microorganisms, or soil?

The term that refers to the movement of a chemical into plants, animals, microorganisms, or soil is absorption. This process involves the uptake of substances, which can include pesticides or nutrients, through cell membranes or other barriers into living organisms or soils. Once absorbed, these chemicals can impact biological systems or the environment in various ways, including enhancing growth or causing toxicity.

In contrast, adsorption refers to the process where substances adhere to the surface of materials rather than being taken up internally. Contamination involves the presence of unwanted substances in a material, often implying harm or disruption, without necessarily indicating the movement of those substances into the biotic or abiotic entities. Translocation refers specifically to the movement of substances within an organism after absorption, especially in plants, where nutrients and chemicals are transported throughout the plant systems. Therefore, absorption is the most accurate term to describe the direct uptake of chemicals by living organisms or soil.