Multiple Choice
Which of the following diagrams best represents the net movement of water molecules during osmosis across a selectively permeable membrane?
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6. The Membrane
Osmosis
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A red blood cell placed in pure water will swell and potentially burst. This cell is in a(n) _____ solution.
A
hypotonic
B
hypertonic
C
isotonic
D
supersonic
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. The three main types are hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic.
Define hypotonic solution: A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell. This causes water to move into the cell via osmosis.
Define hypertonic solution: A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell. This causes water to move out of the cell, leading to shrinkage.
Define isotonic solution: An isotonic solution has an equal concentration of solutes inside and outside the cell, resulting in no net movement of water.
Apply the concept to the problem: Since pure water has no solutes, it is a hypotonic solution relative to the red blood cell. Water will move into the cell, causing it to swell and potentially burst.
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