Multiple Choice
Why does an animal cell swell and burst when placed in distilled water?
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6. The Membrane
Osmosis
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When cells are placed in a hypertonic solution, what is most likely to happen to them?
A
They will burst due to excessive water intake.
B
There will be no net movement of water.
C
They will lose water and shrink.
D
They will gain water and swell.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of tonicity: Tonicity refers to the relative concentration of solutes in a solution compared to the solutes inside a cell. A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes outside the cell than inside the cell.
Recall the principle of osmosis: Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration to balance solute levels.
Analyze the effect of a hypertonic solution: In a hypertonic solution, water will move out of the cell because the solute concentration is higher outside the cell. This movement occurs to balance the solute concentrations on both sides of the membrane.
Consider the physical impact on the cell: As water leaves the cell, the cell loses volume and shrinks. This process is known as plasmolysis in plant cells or crenation in animal cells.
Review the options provided: Based on the explanation above, the correct answer is 'They will lose water and shrink,' as this describes the effect of placing cells in a hypertonic solution.
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