Multiple Choice
During osmosis across a capillary wall, if the blood has a higher solute concentration than the surrounding matrix, which way will free water molecules move?
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6. The Membrane
Osmosis
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What happens to a plant cell when it is placed in a salt water (hypertonic) solution?
A
Salt enters the cell, causing it to become turgid.
B
Water leaves the cell, causing it to shrink (plasmolysis).
C
There is no net movement of water, so the cell remains unchanged.
D
Water enters the cell, causing it to swell and possibly burst.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of tonicity: A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes (like salt) compared to the inside of the cell. This creates a concentration gradient for water movement.
Recall the principle of osmosis: Water moves across the cell membrane from areas of lower solute concentration to areas of higher solute concentration to balance the solute levels.
Analyze the scenario: When a plant cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, the external environment has a higher solute concentration than the cytoplasm inside the cell.
Predict the movement of water: Water will move out of the plant cell into the hypertonic solution due to osmosis, leading to a loss of water from the cell.
Understand the result: As water leaves the cell, the cell membrane pulls away from the cell wall, causing the cell to shrink. This process is called plasmolysis.
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