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WazWaz t1_ja4pual wrote

Take a step back. Matter cannot be created or destroyed (let's ignore E=mc² for now). So you must know the water doesn't just vanish. You've presumably seen the difference between a green leaf and a dead one (hint: the latter is dry).

Trees don't grow forever nor do they live forever, so I don't understand why you thought the water was trapped in them forever.

This is in addition to the chemical processes others have described which convert the water to and from plant matter via photosynthesis and respiration.

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Bsoton_MA t1_ja554yb wrote

Your technically right. That Water (H2O) itself is lost. However living things also create water (vapor) to move, grow, think, or do anything really. Also burning things creates water vapor. The vapor will become water eventually.

Furthermore plants also use water to grow. this 5% you are talking about probably refers to the water that plant used to create new cells. This water can eventually become water by burning it.

Also, even if some water is lost forever and never becomes water again. The percentage is small. So small i fact that it does not really matter

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