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Multiple Choice
A solution surrounding a cell is hypertonic if:
A
it contains only water and no solutes
B
it has a lower solute concentration than the cytoplasm of the cell
C
it has the same solute concentration as the cytoplasm of the cell
D
it has a higher solute concentration than the cytoplasm of the cell
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of tonicity: Tonicity refers to the relative concentration of solutes in a solution compared to another solution, typically separated by a semipermeable membrane, such as a cell membrane.
Define hypertonic solution: A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the cytoplasm of the cell. This means there are more solute particles outside the cell than inside.
Explain the effect of a hypertonic solution on a cell: When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, water will move out of the cell through osmosis to balance the solute concentrations. This can cause the cell to shrink or undergo plasmolysis.
Clarify why the other options are incorrect: A solution containing only water and no solutes is hypotonic, not hypertonic. A solution with a lower solute concentration than the cytoplasm is also hypotonic. A solution with the same solute concentration as the cytoplasm is isotonic.
Conclude with the correct answer: Based on the definition of hypertonic, the correct answer is that the solution has a higher solute concentration than the cytoplasm of the cell.