People sometimes use certain chemicals to kill unwanted plants. These chemicals seep into the ground and damage the roots. Explain why damage to the roots could kill the plant.

The chemical is toxic

Roots for plants have many functions, including absorbing water and nutrients from the soil and anchoring the plant to the ground. For starters, if the roots are damaged, the plant no longer has an anchor to the ground and could be affected by heavy rainfall. The chemicals, such as herbicides, could be absorbed into the plant through the roots, which is toxic to the plants, killing them.