Multiple Choice
Decreased volume and increased concentration of the extracellular fluid (ECF) is defined as:
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6. The Membrane
Osmosis
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In a hypotonic solution, an animal cell will:
A
actively pump water out to maintain its size
B
swell and may burst due to water entering the cell
C
remain unchanged because there is no net movement of water
D
shrink as water leaves the cell
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of tonicity: Tonicity refers to the relative concentration of solutes in a solution outside the cell compared to inside the cell. A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes outside the cell than inside the cell, leading to water movement into the cell by osmosis.
Recall the process of osmosis: Osmosis is the movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. In a hypotonic solution, water will move into the cell where the solute concentration is higher.
Consider the structure of an animal cell: Unlike plant cells, animal cells lack a rigid cell wall. This means they are more susceptible to changes in volume and pressure when water enters or leaves the cell.
Analyze the effect of water entering the cell: As water enters the animal cell in a hypotonic solution, the cell will swell. If too much water enters, the cell membrane may not withstand the pressure, and the cell could burst (a process called lysis).
Eliminate incorrect options: The cell does not actively pump water out in this scenario, as osmosis is a passive process. The cell will not remain unchanged because water is entering, and it will not shrink because water is not leaving. The correct outcome is that the cell swells and may burst due to water entering.
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