Multiple Choice
Which of the following is a passive transport process that moves molecules down their concentration gradient without requiring cellular energy (ATP)?
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9. Transport Across Membranes
Passive Transport: Diffusion and Osmosis
Multiple Choice
In the context of passive transport (osmosis), what typically happens to an animal cell placed in a hypertonic solution compared with its cytosol?
A
Solute moves into the cell by diffusion, causing the cell to expand without net water movement.
B
There is no net movement of water because the solution is isotonic to the cytosol.
C
Water moves into the cell by osmosis, causing the cell to swell and possibly lyse.
D
Water moves out of the cell by osmosis, causing the cell to shrink (crenate).
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the concept of osmosis, which is the passive movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.
Step 2: Identify the tonicity of the external solution relative to the cytosol inside the animal cell. A hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration than the cytosol.
Step 3: Since the external solution is hypertonic, water will move out of the cell to balance the solute concentrations on both sides of the membrane.
Step 4: As water leaves the cell, the cell loses volume and shrinks, a process known as crenation in animal cells.
Step 5: Conclude that in a hypertonic solution, the net movement of water is out of the cell, causing it to shrink, which matches the correct answer.
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