Multiple Choice
Which of the following allows water to move much faster across cell membranes?
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6. The Membrane
Osmosis
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Which of the following will occur if a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution?
A
The cell will become plasmolyzed.
B
The cell will shrink due to water efflux.
C
The cell will swell and may burst due to water influx.
D
The cell will remain the same size as water moves equally in and out.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of tonicity: Tonicity refers to the ability of a surrounding solution to cause a cell to gain or lose water. A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell.
Recognize the movement of water: In a hypotonic solution, water will move into the cell by osmosis because the concentration of water is higher outside the cell than inside.
Consider the effect on the cell: As water enters the cell, the cell will swell because it is taking in more water than it is losing.
Predict the potential outcome: If too much water enters, the cell may burst, a process known as lysis, due to the excessive internal pressure.
Eliminate incorrect options: The cell will not become plasmolyzed (which occurs in hypertonic solutions), nor will it shrink (which also occurs in hypertonic solutions), and it will not remain the same size (which occurs in isotonic solutions).
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